A car is a man’s best friend. Being used to a car is addictive as well as fun, but sometimes your so-called friendly driving trips may not be received well by your car’s transmission system. Bad driving habits host a barrage of problems, from attracting fines and accidents to crippling your car from time to time. So what are these habits that your car’s transmission system doesn’t welcome at all?
1. Driving on Low Transmission Fluid
Thanks to advanced technology, modern cars have onboard computers that provide real-time information on various engine functions such as the status and level of transmission fluid. In case you receive an alert concerning the level of transmission fluid, check it as soon as possible. Transmission fluid is responsible for cooling and lubricating the engine. Allowing the transmission fluid to drop below the recommended level means that some parts of the engine will be eaten by friction or overheat.
2. Racing from Dawn to Dusk
For many people, finding a perfect remote location with snaking roads results in a “dare me” situation where their grave desire to test their car’s speed and power comes to light. Pushing your vehicle to its limits for a few hours is relatively harmless in most cases, but be sure to not overdo it. Unless your car was built for this purpose, racing it from dawn to dusk causes the transmission system to overheat and eventually break down.
3. Sudden Stops
Dads love this game of bringing their cars to a sudden halt just to get everything from the back seat flying to the front dashboard! However funny this behavior might be, remember that your vehicle may not receive it well. Abrupt stops damage the drivetrains, subsequently destroying the transmission.
4. Shifting to Reverse Gear Without Bringing Your Car to a Complete Stop
Shifting to reverse gear often happens during parking. Yes, saving time might be an urgent business, but don’t forget to stop your car completely before engaging an opposite gear. Failure to do this comes with transmission problems that could be easily avoided.
5. Slowing an Automatic Vehicle by Downshifting
Downshifting is a technique commonly used in manually driven vehicles. Though downshifting is helpful in manual vehicles, it may cause long-lasting effects on automatic vehicles. Instead of changing to a lower gear while using automatic cars, slow down your vehicle by gently tapping on the brakes. This ensures your transmission lives longer to take you on to another mountain.
6. Neglecting to Use the Parking Brake
Manual car drivers are accustomed to using parking brakes each time they are bringing their machines to rest, but this isn’t always the case with automatic car drivers. Engaging the parking brake relieves your vehicle from pressure exerted on the output shaft. This will prevent your car’s transmission from damage in the event that it shifts slightly after parking.
7. Not Having a Consistent Maintenance Schedule
Maintenance is part and parcel of a car’s life. It improves your engine’s performance and provides information on which parts need to be replaced even if the car is running smoothly. Nonetheless, when you don’t keep up a consistent transmission maintenance schedule, you are leading your car into a scrapyard!
