Not-So-Smooth Operator (Transmission Signs of Trouble)

You are heading down a flat, newly paved street when all of a sudden you feel it. Your vehicle jumps a little bit when you’re accelerating and changing gears. You know it’s not the surface of the road because it’s smooth as silk. So what did you just feel?

That kind of jumping—or grinding or slipping—during gear changes could be a sign of trouble in your automatic transmission. And it’s important to get it checked out fairly soon because some transmission problems that aren’t fixed early can lead to more involved and expensive repairs.

By far most vehicles on the road in North America have automatic transmissions, and they are workhorses. Unlike early cars with balky, hard-to-shift manual transmissions, the latest automatics allow you to drive without having to even think about gear changes. But you should know about a few signs of trouble to look for if they ever start showing up.

When you first get going and shift your vehicle from Park into Drive, do you feel a slight pause?
How about when you shift into Reverse? Is there a little lag?
Does your vehicle sometimes shake when you’re traveling down the road?
Do you smell something burning in your engine compartment?
Do you hear a clunk when your vehicle shifts?
Do you have spots of a reddish or brown, oily fluid in the driveway under your vehicle?

If you do, these are worth getting checked out at our service center. When automatic transmissions start to show signs of wear and age, it can be because of a number of reasons. They can be caused by your transmission fluid getting old and contaminated, or its level may be low. The gears can be worn. You may have a leak somewhere in your transmission. Or transmission problems might be caused by a computer problem.

Transmission issues aren’t always expensive to repair. Sometimes there may be a leak in a hose or gasket. Or a computer needs to be reset. Other issues may be much more involved. This is why it’s important to get your vehicle checked out when you do notice something doesn’t feel, look, shift or smell quite right. Everyone wants their automatic transmission to be a smooth operator.

Autotronics of St. Peter
111 Jefferson Avenue
St. Peter, MN 56082
507.934.9290
http://autotronicsstpeter.com

Trickle Down Technology

Recently, Nissan introduced the latest version of its Leaf, the company’s electric car. It has many new features, including something called e-Pedal. It allows the driver to let up on the accelerator and, unlike a gasoline engine car, the Leaf doesn’t just slowly lose speed; letting off the throttle pedal brakes the car in a very controlled way, using regenerative and sometimes friction brakes. With practice, a driver can go for a fairly long time without touching the brake pedal.

Another system, similar to those found in self-driving vehicles, can steer the car to keep it in the center of the lane using a camera and radar. It literally watches the lane markers and, of course, doesn’t work well in snow that obliterates those markers. But the technology is impressive and can greatly reduce fatigue on long trips.

In fact, much of this technology has “trickled down” from research on autonomous vehicles, such as adaptive cruise control that slows down your vehicle (even to a stop) if the vehicle in front of you decelerates or stops. And we can expect these features will eventually find their way into all price levels of vehicles if the past is any indication.

There was a time anti-lock brakes were only found on premium vehicles; now they are on nearly all new vehicles. Traction and stability control are also prevalent, helping drivers reduce slippage and maintain control, thanks to computers.

With SUVs and trucks so popular, rear backup cameras help drivers see behind their tall back ends, reducing injuries, deaths and property damage. Bumper sensors and cameras allow drivers to be visually and aurally aware of their surroundings with 360° protection.

Many of these features improve our vehicle’s safety and efficiency, and we can expect new technologies to crop up in the future. But just like the mechanical systems in your vehicle, it’s important to maintain the electronic and computerized systems. Technicians at Autotronics of St. Peter constantly train to keep up on these latest developments. Make sure all your vehicle’s components are maintained in top condition.

Autotronics of St. Peter
111 Jefferson Avenue
St. Peter, MN 56082
507.934.9290
http://autotronicsstpeter.com

The Need for Speed (Wheel Speed Sensor Maintenance)

Today’s vehicles have some pretty amazing technology in them, including a computerized braking system we all pretty much take for granted these days. Antilock brake systems (ABS) have been around for years but they help drivers stop in much shorter distances reliably than ever before. When you see your ABS warning light come on, it’s important to find out what’s causing the problem. It’s a safety issue.

Often the problem when the ABS light comes on is a faulty wheel speed sensor. (In some cases the traction control light will also come on, perhaps because of a non-working wheel speed sensor.) Your vehicle uses the speed sensors to measure the rotational speed at each wheel. That sensor sends the speed data to a computer that can then adjust braking power and prevent your wheels from locking up.

If any of the wheel speed sensors isn’t working right, the ABS warning light will go on and the vehicle’s computer will turn off the antilock brake system. You’ll still have working brakes, but you will lose the functionality of that computerized system.

When your vehicle warns you the ABS has a non-working sensor, you can have a technician check to see what’s going on. It could be one of the sensors is dirty and a cleaning will solve the problem. But it also could be that one or more sensors needs to be replaced.

A technician will use computerized diagnostic equipment to determine what and where the problem is, replace any bad parts and then check to make sure the system is fully operational.

Antilock brakes and traction control are significant technologies that help prevent your vehicle from slipping on less-than-perfect road surfaces, especially useful during wintery weather. Make sure they’re helping you drive the way they designed to.

Autotronics of St. Peter
111 Jefferson Avenue
St. Peter, MN 56082
507.934.9290
http://autotronicsstpeter.com