Quality Cost-Effective Transmission Solutions: Rebuild, Repair or Replacement?

Are you looking for the best transmission repair shop in the Plainfield, Naperville, Bolingbrook, or Romeoville area? Last Chance Auto Repair in South Naperville is what you are looking for. We possess many decades of combined experience in everything auto repair related.

From brakes to differentials, engine tune-ups to struts & shocks, suspension & transmission services, we provide top-tier, high-quality, cost-effective repairs for domestic & foreign vehicles. You break it, we’ll fix it. How can we help you?

Last Chance Auto Repair’s shop understands that gaining your trust and, most importantly, your respect, should be priority; we also know that the only way to do so is to be the #1 shop near you. Give us a call or email us, we will gladly prove to you that we are.

Best Transmission Repair Shop – Best Transmission Rebuild Shop – Plainfield, Naperville, Bolingbrook, Romeoville

When you search the internet for transmission repair you’ll find an awful lot of search results. But not all transmission shops are created equal. For starters you have dealership, corporate, and independently family owned. Obviously there will substantial price differences depending on the route you choose. What is the best/cost effective choice?

As the saying goes “Do you always get what you pay for?” In this case certain trans shops just have way more overhead and mouths to feed than others. Some trans shops are all about transmissions and others use (out source to us) the shops that are all about transmissions to do their major transmission repairs. Who is the best near me?

Today, we are going to talk more about one of the services we specialize in: transmission repairs and transmission rebuilds. Where if you want the best, you need to call the best, and we are the best transmission repair shop near me.

Transmissions – Domestic & Foreign – Rebuild & Repair

Broadly speaking, the transmission system of your vehicle is responsible for delivering the necessary amount of power, from the engine to the wheels, to move the vehicle at a given speed. If you’ve seen the chain system of a multi-speed bike, you pretty much have a general idea of what a transmission system looks like and how it operates.

The transmission is a highly complex system that is composed of several pieces, but the three major components are the torque converter, gear train, and hydraulic controls.

There are different types of transmission systems. They vary depending on the position relative to the vehicle’s engine, kind of wheel-drive, and whether the gearbox is manual or automatic. Regardless, we are the local transmission expert that has you covered.

For the most part, transmission systems are very sturdy; however, sooner or later, they begin to suffer from wear and tear. When this happens, you will absolutely notice a change to the way your vehicle behaves while out on the road.

Given the importance of the transmission system to your vehicle’s operation, it is crucial that you learn the most common signs and symptoms of a faulty transmission. By doing so it can very well be the difference between paying transmission maintenance money and or transmission rebuild money. Here is what to expect:

Slippage

Whether you drive automatic or stick-shift, your car has a clutch system that engages the different gears in the gearbox. One of the most common and telling signs of transmission system damage is a sensation that the gears slip past each other and fail to engage correctly. With time, slippage will cause the transmission system to cease altogether.

Strange Sounds

When your transmission first starts to go bad, in most cases you will notice a distinct change to the sounds your car makes. The specific sound you typically hear will depend on whether your vehicle is equipped with a manual or automatic transmission. For example, a faulty automatic transmission typically makes a humming or buzzing sound, while a faulty manual transmission is characterized by a ragged grinding noise when changing gears. When the damage is bad enough, you may even notice it while standing idle in neutral.

Strange Smells

All transmission systems require the aid of a special lubricant fluid to function correctly. This fluid keeps all the gears from ceasing during their operation. Given enough time, and for various reasons, this fluid can begin to leak or burn inside the transmission. When this happens, you will notice an acrid, sweet smell emanating from your car.

If you notice any of these signs, it is time you swing by Last Chance Auto Repair’s shop to get your vehicle checked by our team of competent & highly experienced transmission mechanics. Lucky for you, we service all makes and models, whether domestic or foreign. So, whether you drive a manual or automatic, our transmission experts have you covered.

Transmission Repair & Rebuild – Plainfield – Naperville – Bolingbrook – Romeoville – Chicagoland

So, you’ve noticed one of the ominous signs that your transmission is going bad. What to do now, who should I call, where should I go? HELP!

Well, the first step is to take your car to your nearest transmission repair and rebuild shop near you. Located in our Plainfield, Naperville, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Chicagoland Illinois area? Transmission expert, Last Chance Auto Repair is the your sure bet. Once your vehicle is here, we will quickly figure out what’s causing the problem(s) or what has damaged your transmission and then take the most appropriate action.

Sometimes a repair is sufficient in resolving the problem. Other times, unfortunately depending on the amount of damage, it may take a complete transmission overhaul to releaviate the issue at hand. When that’s the case, we will be sure to let you know precisely why that is, the cost, and then tackle appropriately.

Most common causes of faulty or damaged transmissions:

Bad Torque Converter

The torque converter is the reason why automatic transmissions exist. These essential components are composed of a highly complex set of pumps, which are solely responsible for allowing the engine to move independently of the transmission. When a torque converter goes bad, the whole system typically begins to fall apart.

Low or Wrong Transmission Fluid

This is one of the most common causes behind a transmission system in need of repair. People often neglect to get their transmission fluid changed when needed. Sometimes, the fluid leaks out or becomes polluted, which inevitably leads to transmission problems.

Clogged Filters

Transmission systems rely on filters to clean the transmission fluid and get rid of dirt and other contaminants. If these filters become clogged, not enough fluid will make it into the system, which leads to problems with the way the gears shift.

Whatever problem is causing your transmission system to act up, once we have our hands on your vehicle and our trans experts dive in, we will determine whether repairing your transmission will be the way to go, or if you are going to need a rebuild.

Best Transmission Repair And Transmission Rebuild Shop Near Me

If only a specific part of your transmission is damaged, and the damage has not caused significant complications to the rest of the system, then a simple repair may be in store. This is obviously the least expensive and quickest option, but it may not be available if you have let your transmission go without a checkup or service for a while.

Sometimes, one lousy component manages to cause substantial damage to other elements within the transmission. It then becomes necessary to take apart the entire thing and conduct a detailed assessment of the damage in order to determine the best course of action. In these cases, once the transmission is out, it typically will get rebuilt.

Last Chance Auto Repair aka the local transmission expert has all your transmission service needs covered. So, if you find yourself asking where in the Chicagoland metropolitan area can I find the best transmission repair and rebuild shop near me? Know that the best of the best is located at 12052 S Naper Plainfield Rd Plainfield, IL, 60585.

Why Do I Have To Replace My Catalytic Converter?

How To Replace A Catalytic Converter?

How To Replace A Catalytic Converter? Preventative maintenance is a type of maintenance that is done to prevent bigger and more costly problems. Vehicles come with a maintenance schedule to help you get the most out of your investment. Typically you can find it in your owners manual. Can’t find it? Our repair shop can break down the schedule FREE of charge.

Neglecting a preventative maintenance schedule which includes oil changes, tune-ups, etc, because your trying to save some money is not a wise or healthy option for a vehicle in the long term. Ignoring, forgetting about, not believing in the preventative maintenance schedule can/will eventually transform into more costly repairs later down the road. Some people do get lucky and win the lotto right? One of the most tragic victims of neglecting your maintenance schedule is the need for a catalytic converter replacement service.

The catalytic converters duty is to remove (transform) environmentally unfriendly gases that enter the exhaust system so they don’t contaminate our planet aka atmosphere. In order for this to be achieved precious metals that are contained inside a catalytic converter which consist of platinum and palladium act as a chemical catalyst which are needed to create a chemical reaction that basically cleans, strips, transforms the toxic gases and turns them into something more environmentally friendly and safe.

Without these big dollar costly precious metals catalytic converters wouldn’t be able to do what they need to do aka their job. Unfortunately precious metals are costly and just like replacing catalytic converters includes a more pricey price tag.

Catalytic converters consist of different types of catalysts which have different responsibilities that are required to efficiently make a catalytic converter work. These “catalysts” for one attack nitrogen oxide pollutants through a chemical process called reduction which removes oxygen. This process breaks down the nitrogen oxides and turns it into nitrogen and oxygen gases which are harmless and do naturally already exist within our atmosphere. Another of these catalysts work by an opposite chemical process which is called oxidation, which adds oxygen and then turns carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide for two. Then a third reaction turns the un-burned hydrocarbons in the exhaust into carbon dioxide and water.

Now you know how catalytic converters work hopefully and understand that because of the precious metals within replacing catalytic converters can be an expensive service. But now what makes a catalytic converter go bad your wondering? What are some of the things that cause a catalytic converter to go bad? Wondering how to keep your catalytic converters healthy? The catalytic converter expert Last Chance Auto Repair has you covered Plainfield, Naperville, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Chicagoland Illinois.

What Causes Catalytic Converter Problems?

Neglecting Tune-Ups – Overdue for an engine tune-up? Have you ever had the spark plugs and ignition cable (wires) changed? When an engine is overdue for a tune-up service, the engine will be potentially be at risk for more wear, tear & problems. When the air-fuel mixture isn’t burning properly, engine misfiring, your experiencing poor fuel economy, all result in unnecessary stress on a catalytic converter. In order for catalytic converters to work correctly the engine must be in good working order hence maintained properly.

If an engine is suffering from irregular air/fuel mixture, improper timing and/or misfiring spark plugs, the exhaust coming from the engine will be affected. Anything that affects the exhaust will in return cause problems with the catalytic converter(s) eventually, over time and in some cases right away. If there is a problem for a lengthy period of time, the catalytic converter(s) can be damaged to the point of needing a replacement. Is it worth saving money now to only end up paying a much larger amount of money later on?

Fuel Contaminating The Exhaust System – If you want your engine to be happy it has to run properly, which requires an accurate air to fuel ratio. When there isn’t enough fuel the engine won’t run properly if at all. If its over fueling, un-burnt fuel can enter the exhaust system which includes the converters. This is one of the most typical reasons that we see catalytic converter failures and is why we flourish in catalytic converter replacement near me.

When this catastrophic problem unfortunately does occur it allows raw un-burned fuel to reach the catalytic converter which then ignites causing it to heat up past the point of its normal operating temperature. In return it melts the catalytic converter’s catalyst together causing the exhaust not to flow, eventually blowing out the catalyst and or your engine dying from the lack of being able to relieve the exhaust gasses.

This problem does cause catalytic converters to fail and then forces consumers to spend a lot of money to replace it which never had to necessarily happen. Don’t break it, maintain it over at the catalytic converter expert Last Chance Auto Repair by getting tune-ups done regularly, replacing faulty parts when needed, like oxygen sensors, fuel injectors, spark plugs, ignition cables and or if your check engine light is on fix it ASAP!

Coolant or Oil Getting Into The Exhaust System – The vehicle’s cooling system is of vital importance to engine health and performance. If the cooling system is suffering from a lack of proper care it’s only a matter of time before the engine starts to run hotter than it should and if your not paying attention this can snowball into a plethora of things that can include cracked manifold gasket, warped cylinder head and gasket problems, cracked blocks, overheated radiators & transmissions, etc.

When gaskets go bad, coolant and/or motor oil can leak into the combustion chamber and containment the exhaust system. Coolant and/or oil in the exhaust system can result in carbon deposits building up in the catalytic converter(s) which eventually will end up restricting the exhaust flow, clogging the converters, making one problem transform into a multitude of other more costly issues.

“Check Engine” or “Service Engine Soon” Light Ignored – Has your check engine light been on, for a long time? A vehicle’s check engine and service engine soon light is an important warning system that lets you know that a problem has developed. These lights come on for many reasons. Sometimes the light comes on then goes off, sometimes it stays on and sometimes it flashes.

When the light is flashing you need to stop driving it and get the vehicle looked at ASAP. A flashing light means your vehicle’s engine is not feeling well, misfiring, and could potentially severely damage your catalytic converters. If not fixed right away the chances increase dramatically that you’ll end up having to replace the catalytic converter(s).

How To Prevent Catalytic Converter Problems

The #1 way to avoid a catalytic converter replacement is to properly maintain your engine. Having catalytic converter problems in Plainfield, Naperville, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Chicagoland Illinois? Check out the certified catalytic converter experts over at our auto repair shop near you in Plainfield, IL. Not sure what the issue is? Get an oil change which comes with a FREE 30-point inspection over at Last Chance Auto Repair. We have you covered!

Conclusion

Not taking care to maintain and tune-up your car on an ongoing basis could result in costly problems with its catalytic converter. Problems like a messed-up air and fuel mix or fuel getting into the exhaust system can harm the converter. Ignoring warning lights and letting coolant or oil into the exhaust system can also cause trouble. To steer clear of these problems, make sure you get regular tune-ups and fix issues when the warning lights come on. Trust Last Chance Auto Repair for expert help with catalytic converters in Plainfield, Naperville, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, and Chicagoland Illinois. Act fast, keep your engine healthy, and avoid unnecessary costs. Plus, get a FREE 30-point inspection with every oil change at Last Chance Auto Repair. Find out more about your exhaust system in the handy table below.

More About Your Exhaust System

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How Often Should I Change My Transmission Fluid?

Trying to figure out when to change/service your transmission? Your vehicle has numerous types of fluid running throughout your vehicle like blood through veins, but one of the most important hands down is transmission fluid.

Should it be changed or not, is it worth it, maybe or maybe not? Through much debate: Absolutely, yes, you should! Be that as it may, how often this crucial service ought to be performed varies by the make, model and transmission. In the transmission service industry this service is one of the most debated & discussed.

When Should I change My Transmission Fluid?

When it comes to changing automatic transmission fluid these days (2020) most manufacturer’s maintenance schedules call for fresh transmission fluid around 60,000-100,000 miles or so. Where some others say 150,000 miles and then some even claim (say) the transmission fluid lasts a lifetime. Wouldn’t that be great if your vehicle’s fluids lasted a lifetime and you never even had to worry. If that was the case we wouldn’t be here writing this article.

Just like all other vehicle fluids, transmission fluid deteriorates over time. But all fluids eventually deteriorate it’s just a matter of when and keeping up on the preventative maintenance aspect to make sure a simple service being overlooked doesn’t turn into a costly with downtime included major service. Lets talk about some of the determining factors behind when to change your transmission fluid.

How do you drive your vehicle, like you still have payments left, like you own it or stole it? Does your vehicle work hard? As in “hard use” – such as a lot of stop-and-go driving, towing boats, equipment or toys with trailers. This will put the need for transmission service in a different category hence it will move it from normal service to severe service, which means you need to service it sooner than normal.

Pushing the vehicle harder raises the transmission operating temperature, and heat puts more strain on the transmission and the fluid. Engine oil and transmission fluid are two different animals. Engine oil primarily acts as a lubricant, transmission fluid on the other hand serves as both a lubricant oil and a hydraulic fluid that is crucial to facilitate gear shifting, cooling the transmission and lubricating all the moving parts.

When Should I Check My Transmission Fluid?

If you do a lot of driving under high-stress conditions, you should check the transmission level more often and have a repair shop check the condition of the fluid. Transmission fluid often is red but can come in other colors, and as it deteriorates it tends to turn darker. It may also acquire a burned odor that could indicate it needs to be changed or that the transmission is developing mechanical problems.

If your vehicle deals with a lot high-stress aka harder driving conditions, you should have a local transmission shop check the transmission fluid level all the more regularly to make sure that your transmission stays healthy. Transmission fluid is typically red, in some cases it is different colors, but regardless as it deteriorates it will generally turn a darker color. It typically will also gain a burned scent that means it either should be changed and or worse case scenario you waited way to long to check your trans fluid and now there may be a mechanical issue brewing. When this occurs it’s time for a transmission shop near me.

Another tell tale sign that your transmission fluid needs to be changed is if there is debris and or particles floating around in the fluid. When you bring your vehicle in for routine service or an oil change, the repair shop (if they service transmissions) can take a closer look at your transmission fluid, your maintenance schedule and your service records to determine what needs to be done if anything.

A lot of auto repair shops these days try to push the transmission flush service. This service forces the old fluid out and then pumps the new fluid in rather than offering you the drain & fill service that includes, in a lot of cases a new transmission filter, cleaning the magnets and inside of the trans pan. Which one is better?

With a transmission flush service the trans pan never comes off, the transmission filter typically isn’t changed (if applicable), you don’t see what is on the magnets inside of the pan nor does it clean the debris & metal shavings that may be present. Some vehicle manufacturers (like Honda & Acura for instance) say not to flush your trans.

You need to know what your vehicle’s manufacture recommends to make sure what is needed and when it’s needed. Either by checking your maintenance schedule, doing your homework online and or bringing it a local transmission expert.

Automatic transmissions these days call for a specific type of automatic trans fluid. Using the wrong fluid could cause damage and cost you a lot more than it would of cost you if you were to have brought it to a transmission expert. A lot of shops and oil change stations that don’t specialize on transmissions will be quick to offer a costly, easy money, transmission flush service. You don’t want to find out the hard way that not every shop specializes on transmissions.

Should I Still Service My Transmission?

Have you never serviced your transmission and have 100,000 miles or more? In this case to play it safe you should bring your vehicle to a transmission shop near you you that knows transmissions. Unless your a gambler and don’t mind taking risks that is. We’ve learned a lot through the many decades of serving transmissions. We have also seen different outcomes due to different situations & circumstances. Our knowledge gives us the ability to not have to gamble with other peoples money. Right or wrong we make sure to point the customer in the right direction.

We’ve seen transmissions with high miles fail after having a fluid service and we’ve seen others operate like a champ. It’s all about the pre-inspection before the service & the problems at hand. If the the transmission is having problems and the fluid is dark with stuff floating around in it, fresh fluid in most cases is not the magical cure for gears slipping, rough shifting or other mechanical problems.