Car Transmission Repair
Manual Transmission or Automatic Transmission. Sunshine Auto Repair has you covered with Transmission Flush, Drive Gears, Counter/Input Shafts, Idle Gears,Output Shaft, Syncronizer Sleeves, or Collars. We do Car Clutches Too!Transmission Repair Services
One of the easiest ways to avoid a large transmission repair bill is to flush the fluid according to the vehicle manufacturer’s guidelines. Your transmission contains a lot of intricate moving parts which can deteriorate quickly if not properly lubricated. Sunshine Auto Repair’s technicians can take a sample of your transmission fluid and determine how long it will be before it’s time to renew. When that time comes, we can have you in and out of the shop relativeley quickly.
Diagnosing Transmission Problems
Sometimes our technicians don’t get to look at the problem until after something has gone wrong. While this is certainly more serious than a simple transmission fluid change, it doesn’t have to spell disaster. At Sunshine Auto Repair, our expert technicians can carefully disassemble your transmission, identify any faults, and determine whether repairs can be made or not. We utilize an extensive network of parts suppliers, manufacturer knowledge, and expert repair skills to get your transmission repaired, and your vehicle back on the roads of El Cajon, CA.
How does your Car’s Transmission function
At its most basic, your car’s clutch allows the engine and gearbox to engage and disengage from each other between gear changes. This means that although the engine’s output shaft is still spinning, there is no load on the gears which may cause them to shift improperly. Once the next gear is smoothly selected your clutch will re-engage the engine and gearbox, resuming forward momentum. Over time, and especially in improperly operated manual transmission vehicles, the clutch can become worn and less effective at its job. A damaged clutch can allow the engine and gearbox to re-engage mid-gear change, and this can have serious effects on the health of your transmission. Sunshine Auto Repair determines the health of your clutch through diagnostic testing as well as test driving. As with a transmission fluid flush, we’ll have your car back on the road and your peace of mind stretching for miles.
Differentials
Another area of our gear-based expertise is your car’s differentials. These sit in the middle of your car’s axles between the wheels and are vital for a smooth ride. As you turn a corner, the outside wheel has to travel a greater distance than the inside wheel. Without properly functioning differentials, the wheels would turn at the same rate causing your car to vibrate horribly, and struggle to turn whenever you tried to go around a corner. When it comes to examining, diagnosing, and fixing faulty differentials, our experience with transmissions makes Sunshine Auto Repair the best place to go in El Cajon, CA.
Avoid transmission disaster by coming in and having your transmission, clutch, and differentials checked out today. Call us at 619-444-1696 or visit us in El Cajon, CA so we can schedule an appointment to ensure your car is in tip-top shape!
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmissions shift between gears automatically to optimize driving, and changes gears based on the driver’s throttle pedal, vehicle speed, engine speed, and vehicle load. Typical automatic transmissions have 4-5 forward gear ratios, a Reverse, Park, and Neutral gear. Shifting gears occur automatically once the car is in Drive and there is no need for a clutch pedal or gear shift like there is in a Manual Transmission. Automatic transmission repair is complicated based on all the components that make it up, and you need to have any automatic transmission issues properly assessed by auto mechanics. Call 619-444-1696 to talk to the mechanics of Sunshine Auto Repair about your transmission problems.
Clutches
There are clutches in both automatic and manual transmission cars, and different types of clutches. When shifting gears, the clutch engages and disengages from the flywheel and transfers the torque through the transmission. Clutches should help your vehicle start and shift gears smoothly. The clutch in your car receives a lot of wear and can eventually wear out. If your clutch begins slipping irregularly or is making noises that are raising suspicion, contact Sunshine Auto Repair to see if clutch replacement is necessary.
Four-Wheel Drive Transmission
A four-wheel (4×4) drive vehicle has differential gears, both front and rear axles, and a transfer case attached to the transmission. Four-wheel drive vehicles demand maintenance on the transfer case, front differentials, rear differentials, and transmission fluids. Visit us on 151 S Sunshine Ave for service on your four-wheel drive transmission services.
Front-Wheel Drive Transmission
If your vehicle has Front-wheel drive, the engine drives the front wheels only. The power is routed through the transmission to the final drive where it is split and sent to the two front wheels through the drive axles. The engine, transmission, and additional hardware is all located in the front of the car. If you are in need, Sunshine Auto Repair of El Cajon, CA will gladly repair front-wheel drive transmission vehicles.
Manual Transmission
Driving a vehicle with a Manual Transmission requires using the clutch pedal and gear shift to manually shift gears based on the speed of the vehicle. Manual transmissions have been built with anywhere from two to eight gears. Front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive are the two main configurations for manual transmissions. Typically, manual transmissions require less maintenance then automatic transmissions. At Sunshine Auto Repair, our auto mechanics can diagnose your vehicle and then recommend the transmission repair or transmission service you need to ensure safety and improve the lifetime of your vehicle.
Replacement
In motor vehicles, the transmission usually refers to the gear box, which uses gears and gear trains to transmit speed and tourque from a rotating power source to another device. You can have your car’s transmission replaced with a new, rebuilt, remanufactured, repaired or used transmission. For more information contact Sunshine Auto Repair in El Cajon, CA. Our experienced service technicians can help you make the best decision for your vehicle and your wallet.
Service, Diagnose and Repair
Transmission repair is not something to take lightly. The transmission is connected to key parts of your vehicle and needs to be working properly for your safety. Transmission services include replacing filters and draining fluids to prevent transmission damage. Typical transmission issues that may lead to repair may include shifting issues, slipping, stalling, fluid leaking, and the service light turning on. If you are concerned that you may need transmission repair, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment at Sunshine Auto Repair today.
Transfer Cases
A transfer case is a part of a four wheel drive system found in four wheel drive and all wheel drive vehicles. The transfer case receives power from the transmission and sends it to both the front and rear axles. This can be done with a set of gears, but the majority of transfer cases manufactured today are chain driven. The transfer case is connected to the transmission and also to the front and rear axles by means of drive shafts.Trust the automotive experts at Sunshine Auto Repair for all your transmission repairs.
(619) 444-1696
What Does It Mean When My Brakes Squeak?
Brake pads are built with a special feature that’s automatically activated when they have worn out past their useful life.
Simply, a metal tab or blade is attached to the brake pad, where it hovers just above the brake rotor. As the brake pads wear out (just like your pencil eraser), they get thinner, which brings the metal tab closer and closer to the metal brake rotor.
At some point, the brake pad material will hit its minimum safe thickness. Here, the metal tab physically contacts the metal brake rotor, where it generates an irritating squealing sound. This is an audible signal from your brakes that it’s time to replace those worn out brake pads.
Just remember that brakes sometimes squeal or squeak, but not as a result of component wear. In any case, drivers should have their brakes inspected to determine the root cause of any unexpected noise.
What Does It Mean When My Brakes Squeak or Squeel?
Brake pads are built with a special feature that’s automatically activated when they have worn out past their useful life.
Simply, a metal tab or blade is attached to the brake pad, where it hovers just above the brake rotor. As the brake pads wear out (just like your pencil eraser), they get thinner, which brings the metal tab closer and closer to the metal brake rotor.
At some point, the brake pad material will hit its minimum safe thickness. Here, the metal tab physically contacts the metal brake rotor, where it generates an irritating squealing sound. This is an audible signal from your brakes that it’s time to replace those worn out brake pads.
Just remember that brakes sometimes squeal or squeak, but not as a result of component wear. In any case, drivers should have their brakes inspected to determine the root cause of any unexpected noise.
Why Does My Brake Pedal Pulse?
This form of pulsation is the telltale sign of disc distortion, which is sometimes referred to as brake rotor warpage.
Here’s the sticky: brake rotors are steel discs that need to be perfectly flat, like a vinyl record, to do their job smoothly. Sometimes, brake rotors become warped, losing their perfectly flat shape. Much more commonly, the brake rotors wear unevenly, meaning the thickness of the rotor is uneven around the disc. In any case, dimensional variation of the brake rotor discs, whether caused by wear or heat, causes uneven braking output at the surface of the rotating disc, which results in a feel of pulsation and roughness when the brakes are applied.
Rotor warpage is rarely an issue with high-quality brake rotors and is typically caused by a failure of low-quality rotors to hold their shape against the tremendous heat generated in the braking system during severe use. If you use low-quality brake rotors and use your braking system hard (perhaps on hilly terrain, or while towing, or while driving a vehicle fully loaded with passengers and gear), rotor warpage is nearly guaranteed.
Should I Replace My Brake Pads and Rotors at the Same Time?
This is a common and highly-debated topic with drivers looking to save a buck or two. Your brake pads and rotors are partners. They work together every time you press the brake pedal. They’re best pals.
But one of these two components may wear out before the other, leading many to wonder if they should replace both at once, or just what’s worn out.
The generally-accepted principle of changing pads and rotors at the same time has several benefits. First, pads and rotors are designed to wear down together. Over time, small grooves will form in the brake rotor surface and corresponding brake pad. These grooves fit into each other, ensuring 100 percent of your brake pad is acting on 100 percent of the rotor, for 100 percent stopping power.
Change the brake pads and not the rotors, and the grooves no longer line up. When choosing this route, 100 percent of your new brake pad may be acting on only 80 percent of the grooved brake rotor surface. Accordingly, braking power will be reduced. Also, the old grooved rotor surface will rapidly chew up your smooth new brake pads, wearing them rapidly.
Finally, if your brake rotors wear out 4 months after the pads do, you’ll be making another visit to the shop to have them replaced, and you’ll be paying the labor rate a second time to change them. For instance, changing pads and rotors might take a technician one hour in total, but changing them separately means you’re paying the majority of that labor rate, twice.
Why Does My Brake Pedal Go All the Way to the Floor?
There are several reasons a vehicle’s brake pedal may go all the way to the floor, and all of them are serious and require immediate attention. Causes may include a leak in the hydraulic portion of the braking system, contamination of the brake fluid by air or water, or severely worn pads and rotors. If you experience a brake pedal that goes all the way to the floor, you’re best to stop driving as soon as possible and have a professional assess the vehicle.
When Is It Time to Change My Brakes?
Your braking system has numerous components, but the brake pads and brake rotors are the stars of the show when it comes to getting your vehicle stationary. When you apply the brakes, hydraulic pressure squeezes the pads into the rotors, slowing the vehicle down with tremendous amounts of friction.
The pads and rotors wear down slightly every time you press the brakes, eventually wearing to a point where they can no longer do their job. It’s a little like the rubber eraser on the back of a pencil, which wears out a little at a time until there’s almost nothing left.
Many factors affect the rate at which things wear out. These include the vehicle, driver habits, types of use, for example, towing or other severe driving, terrain characteristics, and even owner maintenance habits. The quality of parts has a lot to do with their lifespan too, with cheaper components tending to wear out and require replacement more quickly.
When do your brakes need to be changed? In simple terms, they should be changed when the thickness of the brake pads and/or rotors falls below a certain safe limit. As this limit approaches, stopping power may feel reduced, a loud squealing sound from the brakes may become irritating and constant, and visible wear to the brake rotor surface may be noted.
A technician may also recommend replacing brakes after a system inspection, which drivers should have completed regularly for peace of mind. Finally, some vehicles are equipped with special sensors that detect brake wear and can alert the driver to have the system serviced.
WHY DOES MY BRAKE PEDAL GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR?
You should immediately check your master cylinder under your hood.
