Kings Transmission

Kings Transmission Seattlenow offers Power Adder torque converters that have been tailored to fit the requirements of the 2012 Chevy Camaros and the 2005-2010 Ford Mustangs.  Perfect for stock or radical street/race machines, these converters feature furnace brazed components and heat-treated splines, sprag races and hubs for increased strength and durability.  They have a durable billet front cover and clutch assembly to reduce heat and enhance performance.

Automatic transmission have become one of the more complex systems in the vehicle. It runs a relatively high risk of difficult and expensive repair issues. A faulty or poorly maintained transmission can overheat, damaging or even destroying itself in the process. Regular inspection of the system’s transmission fluid rubber parts and filters.  Kings Transmission Seattle can check any leaks or other issues that might spell pricey consequences down the road.

1.                          Common Problems

• Automatic transmissions face a wide range of possible issues, including mechanical breakdown, sensor failure, and fluid leaks. According to the #1 Rebuilt Automatic Transmissions & Gears website, some of these problems can cause the transmission to overheat and even fail completely. Transmission problems can lead to permanent damage and render a car inoperable.
• Transmission fluid must remain cool to prevent damage to the transmission’s rubber components, according to the New Car Buying Guide website. An oil cooler attached to the radiator performs this temperature regulation, cooling the fluid as it moves through the transmission system. Insufficient, old or dirty transmission fluid, clogged cooler lines (especially when pulling heavy loads), mechanical slippage, or a malfunctioning oil pump can all cause a transmission to overheat. When fluid enters the system faster than the oil cooler can cool it, the fluid burns, damaging the system.
• A malfunctioning transmission that emits a strong “burnt” smell may suffer from overheating. To troubleshoot an overheated transmission, the Rebuilt Automatic Transmissions & Gears website recommends first checking the fluid levels. Topping off the transmission fluid, or even draining and replacing it, may resolve the problem.
• Sometimes simple repairs can correct an overheating transmission. If, for instance, the overheating stems from fluid leakage, then tightening the pan bolts and nuts, replacing the gasket, or cleaning the transmission filter may fix the problem. More advanced repairs, overhauls, or replacements require the expertise and specialized equipment of a professional repair facility. A professional shop may need to use hydraulic tables, electronic scanning and testing tools, or other sophisticated technology to find and repair the problem.
• The Rebuilt Automatic Transmissions & Gears website recommends checking the transmission fluids every six months or 6,000 miles, replacing fluid that looks brown instead of its proper red color, to prevent overheating. Drivers who haul trailers or other heavy loads should install an auxiliary oil cooler to ensure correct operating temperatures under heavy loads. Proper driving habits can also protect the transmission. King’s recommends never shifting into Park or Reverse until the car has stopped completely, and never to shift out of Park without simultaneously pressing on the brake pedal.

Overheating

Troubleshooting

Repairs

Preventative Maintenance

I sincerely regret buying my car from the dealership I did. The car is decent enough for the price I paid, but I’ll never use the dealership’s mechanics again. Just shy of a month after driving my pre-owned vehicle off the lot, the check engine light came on. The car started shaking so violently I could barely steer myself off the road.

Naturally I took it into the dealership and raised heck. There is no reason a recently bought commuter car should be malfunctioning only a month after it supposedly went through a thorough inspection! The dealership replaced the malfunctioning parts for free, but ever since that experience when I have a problem with my car I take it to King’s Transmission repair Lynnwood, which is conveniently near my office.

It is most common to find driveshaft u-joints on rear wheel drive automobiles. You may also find them driving the front wheels on 4 Wheel drive models with I beam suspension like on some older Ford trucks.

In some cases this flexible joint will have a grease fitting and will require regular service. In other cases they are sealed from the factory and will require no lubrication at all. Drive-shaft u-joints have been around for a long time.

Common driveshaft u-joint problems

One of the most common signs of a damaged or bad universal joint is when a clunk is heard when the transmission is shifted into gear or moved from reverse to drive. This clunk can be caused by other problems but may be a sign of excessive clearance in the u-joints.

When a driveshaft flexible joint is on its way out it can also cause vibrations at higher speeds. This may feel like a wheel balance problem. A way to tell the two problems apart is in most cases a worn u-joint will cause vibration during acceleration or deceleration. A tire balance problem will create a steady vibration regardless of throttle position.

The road test would be just the first step in confirming a problem with the driveshaft u-joints. It is easiest to inspect the parts with the vehicle up on a lift. When you inspect the universal joint if you see grease leaking out of the end caps this is a sure sign that there is a problem.

With the vehicle raised in the air and the transmission placed in neutral you can usually grab the driveshaft and rotate it to spin the rear wheels. Moving the driveshaft a half turns up and back in either direction is a good way to inspect for looseness. It should have no noticeable play when moving up and back as described.

Removing and inspecting the driveshaft

Before you remove the driveshaft it is a good idea to mark it in relationship to the differential yoke. In some cases a shaft can be specifically balanced. If you remove and reinstall it and a vibration that was not there before surfaces it might be out of phase.

When the driveshaft is removed it is easier to check the condition of the universal joints on both ends of the propeller shaft. You should be able to rock the u-joints in all directions and it should provide smooth steady movement. Any stiffness or bumping that is felt is a sure sign of a defective u-joint.

Although it is not a common problem I have seen repeat universal joint failures and stubborn vibration complaints from drivers that have had undercoating installed on the vehicle. A sloppy undercoat job can get on the driveshaft itself and cause out of balance problems that can have negative effects on the universal joints life.

If you find u-joints with any problems just go ahead and replace it. In most cases they are not expensive. Different manufacturers have different types of joints and therefore different service procedures are needed.

Example: General Motors original universal joints with plastic inserts can be difficult to replace. The Ford universal joints with removable spring clips are much easier. I recommend that you check your online auto service manual for your specific procedure.

Kings Transmission Seattle offers a full line of U-joint repair and replacement.  We also will diagnose driveline problems for free.

Picture of what a Mini Cooper looks like when you have to pull the transmission.

Kings Transmission Seattle is now rebuilding a six speed transmission in a 2006 Mini Cooper S.  Alot of shops won’t take on a project such as this as parts are a real problem to find.  The dealer told this customer that they could replace the transmission to the tune of six thousand dollars.  The other down fall of this unit is that the car has a dual mass fly wheel that can’t be re-surfaced.  Luk clutch now makes a change over that comes with a solid flywheel.  Much cheaper and will last twice as long.

Kings Transmission Seattle is a proud member of ATRA.  ATRA stands for Automatic Transmission Rebuilders Association.  Through ATRA we can offer up to a three year warranty nation wide.

Had a customer arrive today with a 2006 Mini Cooper S.  Car came in with a noisy 5 speed manual transmission.  He was told by the dealer that all they could do was replace the transmission for a cost of around 6000 dollars.  Dealer said parts were not available and that all they could do is replace the transmission with a new unit.  Kings Transmission Seattle rebuilds the Mini Coopers.

Thank goodness the snow has finally melted in the Seattle suburbs! My apartment complex did not get dug out until several days after the storm and the side streets weren’t much better. Though I did my best to stay off the roads, eventually I had to get into the office.

The slush and ice did a number on my ill-equipped for winter car. I attributed the rumbling at first to driving in slush, but now that the roads are clear I can still hear it. I’ll definitely be making an appointment with King’s West Seattle automatic transmission repair this week. They’ve helped me out in the past, so I know they’ll get right to the root of the problem.

We at European Transmission Repair  want our coustomers to know that we offer rebuilds or repair and even replacements on all foreign automatic and manual transmission.  Alot of the owners of European cars such as Mercedes, Audi, VW, Volvo, Saab, Volkswagen, BMW, Jaguar and Land Rover think that only the dealers can work on their transmission.  We are here to let you know that for half the price of the dealer we will  rebuild your transmission with a three year thirty six thousand mile warranty that is good through out the United States and Canada.  Call us and let us put your mind at ease.  206-624-1859.

Audi Transmission

Mercedes Transmission

VW Transmission Volkswagon Transmission

Saab Transmission

BMW Transmission

Jaguar Transmission

Land Rover Transmission

There are three types of automatic transmissions in the Japanese imported midrange trucks.  This includes Isuzu’s NPR, NQR, NRR, FRR, and FTR as well as GM’s W3500, W4500, W5500 and W6500 models, Chevrolet’s W3, W4 and W5 trucks, Mitsubishi FUSO’s FE, FG, FH, FK, and FM trucks, and UD’s 1200, 1300, 1400, 1800, 2000, 2300, 2600 and 3300 trucks.

1. Jatco (primarily found in ’98 and older smaller trucks)
2. Aisian-Seiki (primarily found in ’99 and newer smaller trucks)
3. Allison  (Allison transmissions are found in the bigger imported trucks)

The most common problem we are seeing at Seattle Transmission repair  is related to overheating that leads to transmission failure in imported trucks.  One cause is related to sludge build-up in the cooling system of the transmission.  It can be eliminated by flushing the cooling system with a good grade of transmission cooling system flush that can be purchased at your local auto parts store.  This is done by disconnecting the cooler lines of the transmission and flushing the lines and the cooler itself with a good grade of transmission flush.

Flushing the system, along with changing the fluids can extend the life of your transmission and should be done regularly.  It is important to change the fluid every 35,000 -40,000 miles even if you’re not experiencing problems.  Some people don’t ever change it, some people just change the oil and that results in transmission failure. 

The other problem that causes transmission failure from overheating is a malfunctioning electric fan or thermostat that controls the fan.  Some models are equipped with an electric fan on the transmission cooler.  It is very important to make sure this fan is working properly.  There is an easy way to check this:  when the engine is hot, visually see if this fan is running by simply looking at it.  Or you can short the thermostat wires that control this fan and make sure it is coming on properly.  You should check this immediately after pulling a heavy load to make sure the fan is coming on properly to avoid transmission failure.  Of course, the best way is to have it checked by a certified and fully trained professional.  It is easier and cheaper to replace a faulty fan and/or thermostat than to replace a transmission.