If you notice any of the following you may have something wrong with your transmission–
Sometimes it is difficult to pinpoint a problem. If you think there is something wrong then take your car to the nearest Fluidrive® Service Centre. We can check your transmission and give you an obligation free assessment. Remember that early diagnosis and rectification of a fault can often avoid the cost of major repairs.
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If you are not sure if you have a problem with your transmission, contact your nearest Fluidrive® Service Centre for an obligation free TransCheck®. A TransCheck® is a prescribed sequence of tests designed to check for any faults in your automatic transmission. The tests are carried out by our specially trained technicians. They will advise you if they locate a fault and suggest the most economical way of rectifying it.
Automatic Transmissions are extremely complex and have many moving parts. An automatic transmission specialist is trained to pick up even minor clues that indicate that there could be major problems developing within the transmission. These are clues that could be overlooked by an untrained person and failure to pick them up could lead to major and expensive problems.
Specialists provide you with a guaranteed level of workmanship. All the work is carried out to the highest standards using specialist tools and equipment. The technicians are trained to handle even the most complex electronic based transmission systems. A lack of expertise in diagnosis, service and repairs can inadvertently lead to costly mistakes.
Australia's most experienced automatic transmission specialist is Fluidrive®. Please feel free to discuss your automatic transmission needs with any of our personnel.
A parallel can be drawn between a transmission specialist and a medical specialist. If you have a specific health problem you go to an expert who specializes in that area. The same should apply to your car and particularly your automatic transmission.
Want to know more about how an automatic transmission works? Click here. (Please note: Clicking here takes you to a different web site that provides detailed information on the various transmission components and how they work)
Modern transmissions are complex systems that operate under extremes of load, heat, pressure and friction. Under normal operation, over a period of time, your transmission produces millions of tiny abrasive metal particles that are carried through your transmission by the oil. As a result the transmission, if not regularly serviced, incurs wear that could lead to parts failure, overheating or a complete breakdown.
An Automatic Transmission service should, at minimum, include the following –
Please note that if your transmission oil is extremely degraded or contaminated, the technician might recommend a transmission flush to remove any contaminated oil that remains trapped in the cooler pipes or the torque converter.
We have found that to help prolong the life of your transmission, especially as the vehicle gets older, the transmission should be serviced every 12 months or 20,000 km (whichever occurs first). This is especially important if you use your vehicle for towing or do a lot of driving in heavy stop/start traffic.
Regular servicing not only ensures efficient running of your transmission but is good insurance against costly repairs.
TransGuard® is a specially designed Automatic Transmission service devised by Fluidrive® Service Centres to meet the most stringent conditions. Your Automatic Transmission will be fully serviced and tested for potential problems using Fluidrive's® exclusive Transcheck® diagnostic techniques.
Sometimes the wear and tear on a transmission may be so extensive that it requires a complete overhaul to repair it. In this case, if available, an exchange reconditioned (rebuilt) unit may be fitted to your vehicle, to allow the job to be completed quickly and efficiently.
Alternatively your faulty transmission may be removed and reconditioned. No matter what the solution, Fluidrive® Service Centres only supply transmissions that have been rebuilt to comply with Australian Standards AS3564.1 and AS3564.3. These Standards govern the minimum levels for the quality reconditioning, removing and refitting of automatic transmissions.
On all modern motor vehicles the engine and transmission functions are controlled by computers. After an overhaul, some vehicles need to have the powertrain control module (the computer that controls the transmission) reprogrammed (or reflashed) and this will incur additional charges.
Fluidrive® Service Centres can advise you on the best method of action. All our work is carried out to the highest standards using the Australian Standards as a minimum level for quality.
Fluidrive® Service Centres have been rebuilding and specialising in automatic transmissions since 1963. With today’s motorcars, having a transmission overhauled is a major expense and inconvenience to most people. Fluidrive’s® philosophy is to build it right the first time by only using quality parts and doing the job properly. We don’t take short cuts to save a few dollars and we only use parts that meet the manufacturer’s specifications.
This means our customers can be sure they are getting quality work from a repairer they can trust.
And, having been around since 1963, in the unlikely event that you experience any further problems, you can be sure we will be there to stand behind our warranty.
A transmission is a very complex system composed of many moving parts. Because all the parts for a transmission are completely enclosed in the transmission case, any broken or damaged bits can be continually circulated through the system and cause additional damage. This means it is sometimes impossible to give an accurate estimate until we remove the transmission from the car and fully inspect all the internal parts to assess the damage.
For a lot of transmissions we have a very good idea of what can go wrong and we can, based on our experience, give a price range.
There are a number of transmissions though, where the availability of Hard Parts is scarce or which are prone to possible Hard Parts failure. With these transmissions, it is impossible to give an accurate quote until we strip the transmissions down and see what is wrong. That's why we sometimes give a price 'Subject to inspection' or 'Subject to Hard Parts'.
There are always ways to do a cheap job. We could cut corners on replacement parts; or not supply a reconditioned torque converter; or re-use old clutch plates; or recycle oil or any other number of ways to reduce the price. Unfortunately, any of these methods cheat the customer as, for a saving of a few dollars, they mean that you are not getting a properly repaired transmission.
Having a reliable motorcar is a priority for most of us. The few dollars saved on paying for a cheap repair may not look like such a good idea if it leaves you stranded on some lonely, wet road or if you can’t get any warranty backup.
When looking for someone to repair your transmission, it is a good idea to consider the reputation of the transmission specialist, how long they have been in business and the quality of workmanship, backup and service. Fluidrive® Service Centres have the backup and experience of a group that has specialised in transmissions since 1963.
Remember the wisdom of the old saying- ‘You can get a good job or you can get a cheap job. You can’t get a good cheap job’.
No. Generally it is not possible to buy a new transmission for most cars (even those only a few years old) and, even if they were available, they would cost many times as much as a reconditioned unit.
With Fluidrive® Service Centres, your transmission will be rebuilt to the Australian Standards for reconditioning automatic transmissions. This means that all moving parts, seals, gaskets, the torque converter and all parts that are worn, broken or damaged will be replaced and the transmission will be rebuilt to manufacturer's specifications.
Always check your owners manual to ensure you do not exceed the maximum towing capacity for your vehicle. Exceeding the maximum towing capacity will lead to transmission failure and will also void any warranty.
Towing a trailer, boat or caravan, particularly in hilly country, places extra load on the transmission and will cause the transmission to labour and build up excessive heat. This heat will affect the transmission fluid causing deterioration and eventually a transmission failure.
If towing regularly, it is wise to have an additional transmission oil cooler fitted to prevent this excessive overheating.
A Transmission oil cooler is also recommended where the vehicle is used in slow moving stop/start traffic or subjected to prolonged periods of idling.
Ask you’re nearest Fluidrive® Service Centre about transmission oil coolers to suit your particular requirements.
IMPORTANT: DO NOT PUSH START THE CAR
Firstly, ascertain whether your car has a computerised engine management system. If you are unsure consult your service manual or ring the manufacturer.
If you have a non-computer based system you can either jump-start the car or replace the battery.
In the case of a computer-based system, do not use jumper leads to start the car. This can lead to a power surge and subsequent breakdown of the computer system. You may need to replace the battery and should consult your service centre.
If you are unsure about the type of automatic transmission you have and what to do, contact your nearest Fluidrive® Service Centre who will be more than happy to advise you.
Towing procedures for automatic cars will vary according to the make and type of transmission fitted. If your car has broken down with a transmission problem, towing the vehicle with any wheels on the ground could lead to major transmission damage. You should contact a towing company to transport the vehicle on a flat bed truck.
In the event of a breakdown or mechanical failure other than the transmission, contact a towing company who will have experience with your particular make of car. For example, rear wheel drive cars require different towing procedures to front wheel drive cars and All-Wheel-Drive cars should only be transported on a flat bed truck.
When it comes to your automatic transmission, the major cause of transmission failure is excess heat. Just a 10 degree increase in the transmission optimal operating temperature can severely reduce the viscosity of the transmission oil thereby reducing its effectiveness and the life of the transmission.
Most motor vehicles have a transmission oil cooler fitted in the lower part of the car's radiator. This is usually sufficient for 'normal' operating conditions but, if you plan to do any heavy towing (such as caravanning, boating or horse floats) we recommend that you fit an auxiliary oil cooler.
On some vehicles, such as the BA Falcon, we recommend that even for normal day to day driving, a large capacity cooler that bypasses the vehicle's radiator should be fitted. Just check with your local Fluidrive® Service Centre to see if this applies to your vehicle.
Yes, even on common Australian vehicles there are different specifications for the transmission oils.
For example, the transmission oil recommended for the Holden Commodore transmission is totally different to the oil recommended for the Ford four speed transmission or the Magna four speed transmissions. Each oil is designed for a specific transmission and should not be used in other applications. Unfortunately this also means some oils cost more than others.
So make sure you check with your Fluidrive® Service Centre if you are planning to buy a bottle of transmission oil for your car.
