• Driving Habits That Could Be Damaging Your Transmission

    Transmission repair is vital for maintaining the performance and integrity of your vehicle. By scheduling regular transmission repair for your automatic transmission, you can make sure that your vehicle runs smoothly for every mile that you drive. With services from a transmission shop in Sacramento, you will be able to address any issues that are troubling your car’s transmission system. Between transmission repair appointments, there are a few steps that you can take on your own that will help to preserve your transmission. Let’s review some common driving habits that could be causing damage to your transmission. transmission - repairs

    Rapid Acceleration

    In order to allow your vehicle to accelerate quickly, your transmission must quickly shift through many of its internal gears. If you are the type of driver that prefers to accelerate quickly through traffic, you may be causing damage to your car’s transmission. In order to ensure that your transmission is able to last for as long as possible, it is a good idea to drive smoothly and without sudden spurts of acceleration. Also a key thing to remember, allow your vehicle to come to a complete stop before you switch between forward & reverse gears. That rapid transition could be damaging.

    Leaving Your Foot on the Clutch

    Drivers of manual transmissions will have additional considerations when it comes to their driving habits. One common habit that could be hurting your transmission is a tendency to leave your foot on the clutch. If you neglect to take your foot off of the clutch between shifting, you may be keeping your clutch in constant engagement. Over time, this habit may cause your clutch to wear prematurely.

    Driving Up Steep Hills

    If you want to make sure that your transmission lasts for as long as possible, you may need to adjust the routes that you drive every day. Driving up and down very steep, hilly terrain can place excess wear and strain on your vehicle’s transmission. By choosing the flattest route possible, you can ensure that your transmission lasts for the lifespan of your car. Your mechanic can provide you with additional tips and information about how to care for your transmission.

  • What Do Brake Calipers Do?

    Brake repair is a vital service for any vehicle. When you schedule brake repair in Sacramento, your mechanic will take a careful look at your brake calipers, as well as your brakes and rotors. Your brake calipers play a vital role in the braking performance of your vehicle. When you step down on the brake pedal, hydraulic fluid tells your calipers to extend the brake pistons. This extending action is what engages the brake pads, thereby allowing your vehicle to slow or stop safely. Without properly working brake calipers, the performance of your entire braking system could become compromised. An important part of proper brake maintenance is routine brake fluid servicing. Most Manufacturers recommend brake fluid servicing every 2 years, especially in humid climates. We test for water content in brake fluid with a meter. Anything 2% or over we recommend brake fluid servicing.

    If your car is in need of brake repair, Frank’s Automotive can provide you with all of the necessary services. When you start to experience strange sensations or hear unusual noises when you step on the brake pedal, it is time to schedule immediate brake repair. With professional brake services, you can get your car safely back on the road in no time.

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  • Signs of a Transmission Problem

    When you drive a luxurious German vehicle, you will feel great knowing that your car’s transmission has been crafted from top quality components. Even the best transmissions, however, will eventually require transmission repair after many miles of driving. When you start to see the signs of transmission problems in your German car, you should be sure to call your transmission shop serving Sacramento. Using the latest transmission service equipment, your technicians can return your transmission to safe driving condition. If you are wondering whether it is time to schedule repairs, here is a look at the top 3 signs that your car has a transmission problem. car - transmission

    Slipping Gears

    A transmission that is experiencing mechanical problems may begin to gradually slip in and out of gear. Typically, a slipping transmission feels as though it is lacking power or struggling to remain in the proper gear. When your car starts to lose its smooth shifting performance and overall transmission power, you will need to schedule immediate transmission repair services.

    Failure to Move Forward

    When your transmission is functioning properly, it will engage as soon as you shift your car from park into drive. If you have started to feel as though your car fails to move forward right away after you move the stick shift, you may be suffering from transmission problems. By adjusting the gear ratio of your transmission, your mechanic will be able to make sure that your car is fully responsive to your shifts.

    Leaking Fluid

    Leaking transmission fluid is a sign of a very severe transmission problem. When your transmission fluid leaks, the gears inside of your car may begin to grind or overheat. In order to identify a transmission fluid leak in your vehicle, you can look for a bright red puddle that forms underneath where your car is parked. You can also check to see if your transmission fluid is low by examining the dipstick in your car’s engine.

  • Caring for Your Car’s Engine

    A dirty engine can cause significant wear and tear on the mechanical components of your vehicle. In this video, you will learn some essential tips for performing engine repair on your vehicle. To protect your engine from wear, you can apply an engine degreasing product at regular intervals. The degreaser will remove any dirt and buildup, allowing your engine’s parts to operate more smoothly. Along with cleaning your engine, you can also extend its lifespan with routine engine repair in Sacramento . car - engine

    If your check engine light is on, do not hesitate to contact a qualified mechanic that services your local area. A mechanic that specializes in repairing and maintaining German cars will be able to provide you with quality services that are tailored to the needs of your luxurious vehicle and its high performance engine.

    Does You Vehicle Burn Oil?

    Are you having to add oil in between oil changes, but there are no visible oil leaks? Your engine could be burning oil. 1 quart every 1000 miles is quite normal & acceptable.

    Problem that arises when your vehicle burns that oil, it leaves behind carbon & sludge. (It is like burning oil in a fry pan. A portion of that oil remains as thick sludge or carbon.) That carbon restricts & plugs up oil passages in your engine & it’s components. It is important to remove as much of that build up as possible. That is why we at Frank’s Automotive recommend our Bluechem Premium Engine Oil Service . Bluechem softens, breaks up, & encapsulates those carbon molecules allowing them to be flushed out with the old oil. This allows the new oil to better lubricate your engines interior components. The benefit from this is it helps to restore performance & efficiency. Read more about Bluechem .