Murray's Auto Clinics

How Often Should you Replace your Silver Spring Transmission? Learn More about Common Transmission Problems

To prevent needing sudden and expensive automotive repair, be sure to stay on top of regular maintenance and repair by going to a trusted car service shop. For high quality car repair and service in the Silver Spring area, head over to Murray’s Auto Clinic. Learn more about your transmission and common transmission problems by visiting the following websites, and call us at (240) 450-2478 if you have any questions.

Find out how often to replace your car’s transmission fluid by reading this article on Yahoo.com.

Read about the most common transmission problems at CarsDirect.com. Remember that most transmission problems can be prevented with regular transmission fluid changes.

The Symptoms of CV Joint Problems and What Happens When CV Joints Fail

Your car’s CV joints wear out over time and may eventually fail without notice or warning. Read the following post to learn more the role of CV joints, symptoms of CV joint problems, and what to do when your CV joints fail.  

What CV Joints Do
CV joints are the attached to your car’s drive shaft and help to transfer the transmission’s torque to the wheels at a consistent rate. The CV joints are designed to perform their role while simultaneously accommodating the constant fluxes of the suspension. If you have a front-wheel drive car, the CV joints will also ensure that torque is transferred to the front wheels while the car is turning.

How You Know You Have CV Joint Problems
The most common problem occurs when the CV joint boot is damaged. This causes all of the grease to leak out, which invites dirt and contaminants into the CV joint and accelerates wear. You know that your CV joints have broken if you see that there is grease on the inside of your car’s rims, or if you see a visible crack or dent in the CV joint boot. If you catch the problem early enough, car repair experts can re-grease the CV joint and replace the boot. Worn CV joints also tend to make a clicking noise during cornering, which gets worse as you accelerate through the turn.

What Happens When CV Joints Fail
Unfortunately, broken CV joints are not repairable—only the CV joint boot is. If your CV joints ever fail completely, the car will suddenly not be able to accelerate, since it won’t have the means to transfer torque to the drive shaft or the wheels.

To get your CV joints inspected at a high quality car repair shop in the Silver Spring area and prevent serious damage to your car, come to Murray’s Auto Clinic. Call us at (240) 450-2478 to learn more about CV joint problems and automotive repair.

A Tire Care Guide for Silver Spring: Why Wheel Alignment Adjustment is Necessary

One of the most important services that you can get at our Silver Spring auto repair shop is a wheel alignment adjustment. Learn why this service is necessary by watching the following video, which anyone can use as a tire care guide.

As you’ll learn in this video (as well as when you visit Murray's Auto Clinics), bad wheel alignment causes abnormal tire wear, handling issues, and even a crooked steering wheel. If you see that any of your car’s tires have excessive shoulder wear, or notice that the car pulls to one side during driving, your vehicle will need a wheel alignment service as soon as possible.

For top-notch wheel alignment services at a great price, visit Murray’s Auto Clinic of Silver Spring, MD. Call our car repair shop at (240) 450-2478 or visit us on the web for more information about our auto repair services.

How Often Should Silver Spring Residents Replace Automatic Transmission Fluid?

At Murray’s Auto Clinics of Silver Spring, we know that the answer to this commonly asked car maintenance question varies by make and model. Some cars need new fluid every 15,000 miles, others can go as many as 50,000 miles, and some never need to get transmission fluid replaced at all. This article will tell you all about transmission fluid, why it’s important, and how to know when you need a replacement.

Importance of Following Transmission Fluid Recommendations

Your car’s transmission was made for a specific type of transmission fluid that needs to be changed according to the factory recommendations outlined in your car’s owner’s manual. If your engine is usually running above 175 degrees, you will need to replace your fluid more often. Situations that cause your transmission to heat up include stop-and-go traffic, towing, driving in the mountains, and driving in hot weather. If you don’t follow these recommendations, you could be faced with expensive transmission damage.

Signs Fluid Should Be Replaced

You should get your fluid replaced at a car repair shop if your transmission starts to make strange noises, if you have difficulty changing gears, if your gears slip, if your car surges forward or backwards without any other explanation, or if your car stalls for a few seconds after being put into gear. If you look at your transmission fluid, you’ll know it needs to be replaced if it’s brown in color or smells slightly burned.

Why Regular Inspections Are Important

When it comes to transmission fluid, simply following the factory recommendations isn’t enough. There are a number of things that can go wrong with your car that necessitate a change or flush of transmission fluid. The transmission experts at your local car repair shop know exactly when your transmission fluid needs and the symptoms that indicate it is time for a replacement. The transmission maintenance experts will also check for leaks, which can cause engine or transmission failure if left unattended.

For quality transmission service in the Silver Spring area, come to Murray’s Auto Clinic. Contact us at (240) 450-2478 if you have any questions, and visit our website to see what other repair and maintenance services our shop offers.

Vehicle Maintenance: The Key to Keeping You On the Road [INFOGRAPHIC]

If you’re like many people, your car is one of your biggest investments, second only to your home. You rely on your vehicle to get you where you need to go, and when it’s running well, you probably don’t give it a second thought. In order to keep your car running smoothly on the streets of Silver Spring and beyond, you should have it serviced at regular intervals. Car maintenance will help you ensure that your vehicle lasts for a long time. Do you know how often you should have your car serviced and what the mechanic does at each interval? Arming yourself with this basic knowledge can make you a more responsible car owner. Check out this infographic to see what services your car needs and when it needs them. You’ll also learn a few handy maintenance tips! Please share with your friends and family to keep everyone driving safely on the road.