Blog Layout
IS REPLACING MY TRANSMISSION WORTH IT?
American Pride Automotive • Jul 19, 2013
This is a subtitle for your new post
We never look forward to having to break the news to a customer that their vehicle’s transmission is broken beyond repair. Because of the costly nature of a new transmission, many American Pride customers wonder if it’s smarter for them to buy a whole new car. We wrote a post on this subject a while back and had this to say:
“If the car is 15 years old with 180,000 miles and needs other repairs, it may not make sense. But if the car is 8 years old and otherwise in good condition, you could save a lot of money in the long run by having a remanufactured transmission put in. If the car or truck still suits your needs and you would have kept it for two years or more had the transmission not failed, it’s usually a safe bet that replacing the transmission is cheaper than replacing the car.
If you have decided to replace your transmission, it’s often tempting to go with the cheapest option which is frequently advertised by shops that say they will rebuild your transmission. Unfortunately, this is usually a bad choice and can cost more in the long run. Rebuilds take a lot of time; it’s not unusual for the car to be out of commission for over a week. Plus there’s no guarantee that once the transmission is out of the car that they won’t run into other problems like cracked castings and broken gears that both drive up the price and extend the time you’re without a car to drive.”
And we’ve condensed all that into a handy infographic, just for you:
If you choose to replace your transmission, we sell re-manufactured transmissions (primarily Jasper) that are top-quality and come with an impressive warranty to add value to your current vehicle. If you decide to buy a replacement vehicle, we sell a wide array of pre-owned vehicles and will work hard to find the car that is just right for you!
Call or contact American Pride today.
We want to say thank you to all of our healthcare and first responders. Please accept this specialized offer.
You’re driving home at night and it is raining cats and dogs. You can’t see but 20 feet in front of your car, but you’ve slowed down and are being extra cautious, so what could go wrong? Then you feel it. A sinking Cl-clunk. Maybe that “puddle” you saw ahead of you was deeper than just a puddle. Before you know it, your car is stalling in the high water in the middle of the road. Now what? First off, don’t panic. Turn on your hazards and crank the ignition once. If the car starts, make it dry land and pull over to assess the damage. If it does not start the first time, do not try to start it again. Doing so can result in a hydro locked engine and will likely necessitate the rebuilding or replacement of the engine. Unfortunately, if you find yourself stalling in water at all, your vehicle will probably need costly repairs. The best way to avoid water damage is to practice safe and smart driving in wet weather, which brings us to Part 2 of the Everything Auto “Blame it on the Rain” series (Find Part 1 here). Take heed of these severe weather driving tips: 1. TAKE NO CHANCES ON PUDDLES Even if the standing water ahead of you looks shallow enough to drive through, think twice. If the water is “rushing” or if other drivers are making a point to avoid it, don’t assume that your vehicle is the exception. Additionally, you never know the hazards that lay at the bottom of a puddle. Hidden potholes or debris can pierce your tires and jostle your alignment and suspension system. 2. IF YOU MUST TAKE A CHANCE, TAKE IT SLOW AND STEADY When you deem it necessary and safe to drive through water of questionable depth, go slowly. Speeding through a puddle, even a shallow one, can splash water into your vehicle’s intake and critically harm the engine. Like we mentioned last week, after driving through standing water, lightly tap your brakes to make sure they aren’t saturated and to dry them off. 3. KEEP A ROADSIDE EMERGENCY KIT HANDY Sometimes, no matter how careful you are on the road, accidents and vehicle malfunctions happen, especially in wet severe weather. That’s why it is extremely important to keep emergency supplies ready in the trunk for the worst case scenario. You can buy a preassembled one, but it is cheaper (and more rewarding) to assemble your own. What should you include? Edmunds.com provides an excellent comprehensive list of items, a few of which include: 12-foot jumper cables Four 15 minute road flares Two quarts of oil A gallon of antifreeze A first-aid kit. Find the rest of the list here We hope that this series has given you helpful safety insights and tips for driving in the rain! Remember that American Pride Automotive is always here to help and ready to answer any and all of your auto repair and maintenance questions! Call or contact us today.
Along with flat tires and low or faulty batteries, an overheating engine is one of the leading causes of car breakdowns. An engine can overheat for many reasons, but coolant issues are often to blame.
ONCE I HAVE REGISTERED MY VEHICLE IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA, HOW LONG DO I HAVE BEFORE MY VEHICLE MUST BE INSPECTED?
There is no grace period. Once you have registered a vehicle with the Division of Motor Vehicles in the state of Virginia, it must be inspected immediately.
Your vehicle's powertrain can last for hundreds of thousands of miles with proper maintenance and minor repairs in most cases. Unfortunately, major, unexpected problems can happen in which your only option is a replacement of the engine or transmission.
Sometimes it's simply time to buy a new or used vehicle that you LOVE at the right price.
This increased risk makes driving while fatigued almost as dangerous as driving while tipsy.
Our cars and trucks carry us from point A to point B all year long and everyday use can create significant wear and tear that may not make itself obvious until a long road trip.
While most leaks are caused by damaged outer seams on the evaporator core, others are a result of corrosion inside the unit.
For July, August and September, $5.00 from every State Inspection performed was set aside for this quarter's community: star Hospice House & Support Care of Williamsburg.