by Mark S. Taylor | Jul 7, 2026 | Transmission & Sensors
A bad tie rod produces specific, identifiable symptoms — and which symptoms you have tells you whether it’s the inner end, the outer end, how worn it is, and whether you have days or weeks before it becomes a safety emergency rather than a repair inconvenience....
by Mark S. Taylor | Jun 5, 2026 | Transmission & Sensors
A slipping transmission feels like your engine is revving but your car isn’t accelerating — like running on a treadmill. The tachometer needle climbs, but the speedometer doesn’t budge. In an automatic, this happens when internal clutch packs or bands...
by Mark S. Taylor | Jun 3, 2026 | Transmission & Sensors
Some delayed shifting when engine is cold its completely normal. Your transmission fluid thickens like cold honey, and your transmission control module (TCM) may intentionally delay shifts to warm things up faster. But if your transmission holds a gear for more than...
by Mark S. Taylor | May 27, 2026 | Transmission & Sensors
If your automatic transmission jerks or thuds when shifting from 1st to 2nd gear, the most important thing to know is this: if the jerk only happens when the transmission is cold and smooths out completely as it warms up, you’re almost certainly dealing with a...
by Mark S. Taylor | May 25, 2026 | Transmission & Sensors
If your car vibrates only in reverse gear, the cause is almost always a worn or broken engine or transmission mount — and specifically the mount that gets loaded when the engine twists in the opposite direction from normal driving. Reverse applies torque to your...
by Mark S. Taylor | May 19, 2026 | Transmission & Sensors
If your car delays shifting when you accelerate, it’s usually a hydraulic pressure problem or a failing shift solenoid — not a death sentence for your transmission. The good news: many cases are fixable for under $300 with a proper fluid service. The bad news:...
