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How can I make an automatic transmission last longer?
I’m buying my first car in a few weeks. I’m excited about it, but my Dad also has me worried about repair costs and “dropping the tranny,” which he says can happen if I don’t drive carefully. I was wondering if you could give me some tips on how to make an automatic transmission last longer?
Matt Terzi · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Congrats on getting a new car! And yes, your dad is right. Repair costs are excessive, and replacing a transmission costs a small fortune. Here are some general tips on how to make an automatic transmission last longer:
- Know your car’s maintenance schedule, and stick to it! Check your car’s owner’s manual for guidance on when to replace transmission fluid and perform other important vehicle maintenance
- Don’t drive like Lewis Hamilton. His Formula One race car is designed to be driven hard. Your consumer grade car isn’t. Regular hard acceleration puts a lot of unnecessary strain on your car, especially your transmission
- When it’s cold out, let your car warm up for a few minutes before you drive away. Cold transmission fluid makes the gears engage more slowly and can even cause damage.
- Use your parking brake, especially when parking on hills. When you’re parking, the transmission helps the brakes keep the car in place. The parking brake can and should be used to do most of that heavy lifting instead
- ** Come to a full stop before shifting.** If your car is in motion, bring it to a full stop before switching between park, drive, and reverse gears
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