How To Preserve Your Transmission During the Winter

Cold weather and vehicles generally don’t make the best combination. As temperatures dip, it isn’t uncommon to start experiencing a few transmission issues, such as hard shifts, leaks and premature wear caused by contracting components, and thickening transmission fluid, all of which prevent the transmission from doing its job properly. To avoid getting stranded by the side of the road in the cold or having to pay an exorbitant repair bill, follow these tips on how to preserve your transmission during the winter.

Switch To Synthetic Transmission Fluid

Your vehicle’s transmission fluid serves many important purposes, from lubricating moving parts and preventing premature wear and tear to facilitating smooth gear changes. When temperatures start to dip, however, transmission fluid can begin to thicken.

Due to this change in viscosity, the transmission fluid won’t be able to circulate effectively throughout the transmission system, thus preventing it from fulfilling its important duties. To ensure your transmission fluid works properly during the winter, consider switching out your standard fluid to synthetic fluid, which is generally less viscous in cold temperatures.

Store Your Vehicle in a Garage

An effective way to protect your vehicle’s transmission from the perils of winter weather is by storing it in a garage. If you have the option, storing your car in a garage reduces your transmission’s exposure to extremely low temperatures and harsh weather conditions such as cold rain or snow. As a result, the transmission’s components will be less likely to contract, the fluid will be less likely to thicken, and you will reduce the negative impacts of winter weather overall.

Don’t Be Too Hasty

Another tip on how to preserve your transmission during the winter is to take things slow. While this tip isn’t ideal if you’re running late or on a time crunch, it can significantly reduce the amount of strain placed on yo

Symptoms of a Bad Transmission Control Module

A transmission control module is an electronic mechanism in a vehicle’s transmission that primarily collects data and processes signals to calculate the best time to change gears. Essentially, it helps facilitate effective and consistent gear shifts. If this component becomes worn down or damaged and you do not resolve the issue, the wiring in your transmission could incur permanent damage, and the safety of your vehicle will be reduced. As such, it is crucial to recognize the symptoms of a bad transmission control module so you can identify and rectify the issue immediately. Below, we will address some of the tell-tale signs that something isn’t quite right with your transmission control module.

Stalling

A common sign that there is something wrong with your transmission control module is when a vehicle stalls between gear changes. If your transmission control module experiences damage as a result of overuse, heat fluctuation, or simply old age, it may not be able to properly determine when to change gears. As a result, stalling will likely occur.

Inability To Change Gears

Another common symptom of a bad transmission control module is an inability to change gears. Rather than simply stalling between gear changes, a severely damaged or ineffective transmission control module may prevent your vehicle from changing gears altogether.

For example, your transmission could get stuck in neutral, you could find yourself unable to downshift when coming to a stop, or your vehicle may not be able to upshift when accelerating. These issues are all a potential indication that there is something wrong with your vehicle's transmission control module. 

Gear Slipping

If your vehicle often experiences gear slippage, there could be something wrong with your transmission control module. Gear slipping refers to when your vehicle randomly switches into a different gear without any warning or reason. Due to the obvious dangers tha

The Effect of Cold Weather on Your Transmission

Cold weather can take a toll on many different components of your vehicle—including its transmission. As temperatures continue to drop, it’s important to be aware of the ways in which chilly weather can impact your vehicle’s transmission. That way you can take measures to avoid potential issues, or at the very least, mentally prepare for them should they occur. To help you brace yourself and your vehicle for frigid temperatures, take a look at these common effects of cold weather on your transmission.

Contraction

One of the most common impacts of cold weather on a vehicle’s transmission is contraction. When temperatures drop, they cause the metal transmission components to contract. In other words, they shrink slightly. As a result of their change in size, various parts of the transmission may become loose. Because the parts won’t fit together properly anymore, there is an increased potential for leaks to develop. In addition, the moving parts of the transmission may wear down more quickly as a result of their contraction.

Changes in Viscosity

Another common effect of cold weather on a transmission is changes in its fluid viscosity. When cold temperatures emerge, they cause the transmission fluid to get thicker. Generally speaking, transmission fluid can maintain normal viscosity at operating temperatures that are between 150 and 220 degrees.

When the transmission is exposed to temperatures below zero degrees, however, the transmission fluid becomes too thick. As a result, the fluid cannot properly circulate throughout the transmission. The lack of circulation can have several negative impacts—from loss of hydraulic pressure which can inhibit gear changes, to lack of lubrication which can lead to premature wear and tear.

To help prevent your transmission fluid from thickening up as a result of cold weather, consider swapping out your regular fluid for synthetic fluid. Typically, synthetic fluid is less viscous in

Advantages of Adding an Overdrive To Your Hot Rod

Equipping your hot rod with an overdrive unit is a common type of vehicle customization—and for good reason. An overdrive unit allows a vehicle to drive at a sustained speed with a decreased amount of engine revolutions per minute. In doing so, there are numerous financial, comfort, and practical benefits that one can enjoy. To learn about some of the key advantages of adding an overdrive to your hot rod, consult this guide.

Reduced Noise

One of the key benefits of an overdrive unit is that it will allow your vehicle to operate efficiently while outputting less noise. Because the engine is turning at a slower speed, it will produce less noise. As a result, you can enjoy a quieter, more comfortable ride in your hot rod without sacrificing power or speed. 

Less Mechanical Wear

In addition to reduced noise, adding an overdrive to your hot rod will also result in less mechanical wear. Since the engine of the vehicle will turn at a slower speed while in overdrive, both the engine and the gearbox will experience less wear and tear over time. Thus, you will be able to keep some of your vehicle’s most important components in better working condition for a longer period of time. 

Better Fuel Consumption

Another advantage of adding an overdrive unit to your hot rod is improved fuel economy. Since the engine will turn at fewer RPMs at cruising speed, the addition of an overdrive unit will result in better fuel consumption for your vehicle. Thus, while an overdrive unit may require a bit of an initial investment, it has the potential to ultimately save you a significant amount of money on gas in the long run.

Transparts Warehouse is a leading provider of top-quality standard and automatic transmission parts. Our extensive online collection includes a wide range of exceptional products that can enhance your ride or simply get it working smoothly again—including competitively-priced transmission overd

Shuddering Transmission: What It Is and How To Fix It

Transmission shudders are a common type of transmission issue that many people experience. While transmission shudders may seem like a serious, catastrophic problem that requires getting a new transmission or replacement parts, they are actually one of the rare vehicle issues that appear worse than they actually are. Often, transmission shudders are relatively easy to fix and don’t indicate that there is a larger problem at hand. To gain a better understanding of what a shuddering transmission is and how to fix it, continue reading.

What Is a Transmission Shudder?

Also known as a torque converter shudder, a transmission shudder refers to when your vehicle’s transmission begins to noticeably shake or tremble convulsively. In most cases, transmission shudders occur when shifting your vehicle into overdrive or when you drive up an inclined surface while your vehicle is already in overdrive. 

Common Causes of a Transmission Shudder

When your vehicle starts to shake convulsively, it may seem like your transmission is significantly damaged and about to shut down completely. However, the primary cause of a shuddering transmission is simply contaminated transmission fluid.

When the fluid in a transmission becomes dirty and contaminated, the particles in the fluid prevent it from building up enough pressure in the transmission lines. In turn, this will prevent proper pressure contact between transmission plates when they are applied. As a result, the transmission will begin to shudder. For the same reason, transmission shudders may also occur when there is not an ample amount of transmission fluid.

How To Fix a Shuddering Transmission

Fortunately, fixing a shuddering transmission is often as simple as getting a transmission flush to replace the

Essential Automatic Transmission Maintenance

High Performance Automatic Transmission Upgrades Explained

If you’re interested in upgrading your vehicle to allow for additional power and optimal performance, the transmission is a great place to start. There are several different ways you can enhance your vehicle’s automatic transmission to improve its capabilities. Whether you’re thinking about upgrading your vehicle for racing or just want to enhance its performance, here are some high-performance automatic transmission upgrades to consider.

Install a Shift Kit

One way to increase your automatic transmission’s performance is by investing in a shift kit. A shift kit is essentially a set of components that are designed to improve how well a vehicle shifts between gears. In addition to ensuring smooth shifting, installing a shift kit can also improve a vehicle's fuel economy and the durability of the transmission.

Many automatic transmissions are designed to allow for too much shift overlap, which is the period of time when the transmission is in two gears at once. While longer shift overlap can increase shift smoothness, it can also result in a disconnected feeling and cause excess friction to form on the transmission’s moving parts, which reduces the efficiency and durability of the transmission.

By modifying the timing of a transmission’s shift to reduce shift overlap, a shift kit can substantially increase the shift firmness and durability of the components of the transmission. By reducing slipping caused by extended overlap, shift kits can also increase the fuel economy of a vehicle.

Adjust Factory Gear Ratios

Typically, stock automatic transmissions are designed to prioritize optimal fuel consumption and minimal production costs. If you’re interested in improving a vehicle’s speed and performance, consider altering the factory gear ratio of your stock automatic transmission. Adjusting the gear ratio of the first or fourth and fifth gears can reduce the amount of torque transferred to the drive wheels. As a re