Automatic Transmission Repair and Diagnostic

Fixing your transmission problem right, starts with diagnosing your problem right! That's why we will perform our exclusive Complete Diagnostic service on every car before we do any transmission repair.

We have the technology and expert diagnosticians to pin-point the root of your transmission problems so we only repair what needs fixing and nothing more. Over half of the time, we'll discover your transmission only requires a minor repair. It's why John Wise Transmission is the most trusted name in transmissions.

Our exclusive Diagnostic service includes ALL of these checks:

  • Check the level and condition of your transmission fluid
  • Check the level and condition of transfer case and differential fluid, where applicable.
  • Perform a road test, to experience first-hand any problems you have noticed, and to evaluate your car's performance including:
    • Initial engagements
    • Each drive range
    • Upshift timing
    • Upshift quality
    • Downshift timing
    • Downshift quality
    • Passing gear
    • TCC engagement
    • Neutral
    • Reverse
    • Noises
    • Vibrations
    • 4x4 performance
    • Park-hold


Your vehicle will be placed on a lift to inspect the controls under the vehicle for any possible cause of the problem external to the transmission including:

  • Shift linkage or cable
  • Vaccuum connections
  • TV/detent cable/linkage
  • Engine performance
  • Harness connections
  • Ground connections
  • Engine idle
  • Mounts
  • Final drive
  • Axles and shafts
  • U-joints/CV joints
  • Fluid retention
  • Pan gasket
  • Wire condition
  • Scan the computer for trouble codes.

Diagnose Automatic Transmission Problems

 

Basic Parts of a Transmission
While there are many, many little parts inside, your transmission is essentially made up of a few key parts of systems.

  • Bell Housing: This is the cone shaped metal case that you can see when you peek underneath your car. If you have a front-wheel-drive car it's stuck on the side of the engine under the hood. If your car is rear-wheel-drive, the tranmission will be mounted underneath the car behind the engine.

     

  • Gears: Even though you're not shifting them, an automatic transmission has gears. They are broken into main gears and planetary gears. You need all of these to be able to drive.

     

  • Fluid: Transmission fluid is very important to an automatic transmission. All of the magic happens in the fluid. Most cars come with red transmission fluid, good to know if you are looking for a leak.

     

  • Filter: All of that fluid has to be clean for your car to shift gears at the right time. To keep things fresh, your transmission has a filter to catch any gunk.

Now that you know a little about what's happening in there, you can try to figure out why your transmission is acting up, or at least understand what your mechanic is talking about while he tries to make your bill into his new fishing boat.

 

Transmission problems fall into two very similar categories:

  • Won't go.
  • Won't go smoothly

These two groups of problems are caused by the same faults in your transmission, so whichever your car is doing, the following applies.

 

Is your fluid level correct?
It's important to check your transmission fluid at least twice a year. Not only can a low fluid level cause your car to shift poorly, it can eventually lead to transmission damage, and a costly repair. If your car seems to be losing fluid on a regular basis, you may have a leak.

 

Is your transmission leaking?
Checking for leaks isn't as trying as it may seem. The transmission is a closed system, so there are only a few places that can spring a leak. Unless it's been changed to a non-dyed fluid, your car will have red transmission fluid. Here are a few places to check for leaks:

  • At the filler tube base.
  • At the drain hole underneath the transmission.
  • Between the transmission and the engine.
  • At the selector shaft - the rod that connects your gear shift to the transmission.
  • Speed sensor mounting point. This will either be your cable screwing into the transmission housing or an electronic sensor bolted to the housing.
  • The radiator. If your car has a transmission cooler, it's possible that a leak will cause transmission fluid to leak into the radiator fluid. They don't mix well, so you'll see it floating around in there.

Is your filter clogged?
Your transmission's filter is vital to its performance. If you haven't replaced your filter in a while (or ever for a lot of us), be sure to do this before you start talking about rebuilds or replacements.

 

Most transmission problems can't be fixed by the average do-it-yourselfer. There are just too many specialized tools and pieces of equipment you'll need, and buying this expensive gear just to screw up your first three tries at fixing the thing just doesn't make too much sense.

 

John Wise Transmission is here to help diagnose your problem and help you get back on the road as soon as possible.  Make sure to tell our mechanics what problems you have been experiencing or any problems you discovered when you inspected the transmission.   If there's a leak, let him know where and how much is leaking.

 

Time for a rebuild?
When your transmission gets tired enough, you'll have to have it rebuilt. It's true. For some makes and models of car, it's true a little too often, but that's neither here nor there. The important thing is checking any other possible causes to your problem before you take the transmission apart.  The good news is that John Wise Transmission warrantees your transmission rebuild.