Be aware of the signs that your transmission needs repair to start scouting out the right repair shop and put money aside to get the job done.   As your car ages, staying current on regular maintenance can help limit unexpected repairs. Mr. Transmission/Milex Complete Auto Care can help you stay abreast of maintenance and fix problems as they arise. While rotating the tires and changing the oil solves basic issues when your car is new, your vehicle will require more intensive repair as the miles tick up. Whether it’s changing the shocks or struts, replacing the timing belt, or installing a new car battery, older cars are going to need some fixes along the way.   What is the Transmission? The transmission is your car’s gearbox. It controls how much power is transferred to the wheels. Today, most car transmissions are comprised of five or six gears that change automatically as a car accelerates a ... read more

Mr. Transmission, a 94-unit chain of auto repair specialists, earned a spot on the Franchise Times’ annual ranking of the 400 largest franchise systems in the United States by global systemwide sales.   The Franchise Times Top 400 is one of the most comprehensive rankings of franchise systems in the United States. A team of seven researchers and reporters spent five months collecting, verifying, and analyzing the numbers to generate the Franchise Times Top 400 ranking of the 400 largest U.S. franchise systems. The research team pores over voluntary reports and publicly available data, including the franchises’ most recent franchise disclosure documents and Securities and Exchange Commission filings to determine the lineup.   "We are very proud of the recognition Mr. Transmission received in the franchising community," said Peter Baldine, President of Moran Family of Brands, the franchisor of ... read more

If you head out to start your morning commute and your car refuses to reverse out of the garage, Mr. Transmission has the solution to get your day moving in the right direction again.   Putting your car in reverse to back out of a parking space is something we do every day without much thought. When your car decides backing up is for the birds, it can be a shock and a major inconvenience. If your car refuses to back up, the likely culprit is a problem with your transmission. The transmission is your car’s gearbox. The modern car transmission is made up of five or six gear sets that control the amount of power the car has without impacting the speed. Changing gears at the correct time improves fuel consumption and ensures your engine does not get strained while you are driving.   In cars with automatic transmissions, a built-in torque converter will automatically shift gears and transfer power to the wheels to enable acceleration. Drivers with manual transmissions ch ... read more

If your car refuses to go into gear, Mr. Transmission has some tips to narrow down the cause of the problem and get your car running smoothly and back on the road.   The first automatic transmission vehicle used compressed air to change gears and was invented by a Canadian steam engineer, Alfred Horner Munro. General Motors developed a transmission that used hydraulic fluid, which took the new method for automatically shifting to the mainstream.   Data compiled by CarMax, a used car dealership, revealed that 97 percent of car buyers opt for a vehicle with an automatic transmission, while only 2.5 percent of shoppers choose a stick shift. Idaho, Oregon, and New Mexico have the highest number of drivers who choose a manual transmission ride, while drivers in Illinois, New Jersey, and Wisconsin all prefer to let their transmissions shift gears. Automatic transmission offers a comfortable ride, delivers good fuel ... read more

The Importance of Changing Transmission Fluid The transmission is one of the key components of a car’s engine. Whether automatic or manual, the transmission’s important duty is for shifting gears, giving the engine power and the appropriate level to drive at a given speed. An automatic transmission shifts automatically for you as you accelerate or de-accelerate, while a manual transmission relies on the driver to shift. Because of its integral role in the operation of your vehicle, replacing or repairing a transmission is an expensive proposition. To avoid finding yourself on the bad end of a big bill, changing the transmission at appropriate intervals is essential.   What is Transmission Fluid? Transmission fluid is, in part, a lubricant that makes the parts inside your transmission move smoothly. If you have an au ... read more

Four Ways You Can Damage Your Transmission Just like any other part of your vehicle, your car’s transmission system need its owner’s care and attention.  It may not require frequent maintenance like oil changes, but there are some things people should know to make sure their transmission is running properly.  Here are some common practices car owners can do to ensure they are not damaging their vehicle’s transmission. Never having the transmission fluid changed. Luckily, this is not something that needs to be changed very often.  For many cars, the manufacturer may suggest not needing to get fresh transmission fluid until 100,000 miles.  In some cars, that can even be extended to 150,000 miles while other car experts suggest every 50,000 miles.  Although the specifics may vary by vehicle, if your car has a lot of years and miles on it or may not be running smoothly, it may be time to take your car in and have ... read more

How to Extend the Life of Your Car Many people know the importance of bringing your car into their local Milex Complete Auto Care for routine maintenance or scheduling an appointment with Mr. Transmission at the first sign of transmission trouble. But it’s easy to miss the main message of why people should stay on top of their oil changes and filter replacements. In addition to keeping your car in top condition, you will likely want to avoid purchasing a new car until it is absolutely necessary.  New cars are fun to drive, and we all love that new car smell, but it isn’t a pleasant experience to pay for one, month after month after month. Here is some practical advice that every car owner should know that should help extend the life of their vehicle. Take your car for regular maintenance. Just like the adhering t ... read more

October is Fall Car Care Month As the calendar turns to October and the start of fall is upon us, now is a good reminder that October is Fall Car Care Month. October is a good time to assess the condition of your car and determine if it needs maintenance.  It has been through a long summer with continued exposure to the hot weather, and maybe a long trip or two mixed in.  Now is the time to take your car in for any work that may need to be done before the winter weather arrives.  It feels a long way off right now, but the Farmer’s Almanac is predicting that two-thirds of the country will encounter a colder-than-normal season. So with that in mind, October’s a good time to get your car inspected at Milex Complete Auto Care or ... read more

Five Ways You Could Accidentally, Inadvertently Damage Your Car Routine maintenance or some standard problems with your car will lead you to bring in your vehicle at your local Milex Complete Auto Care or Mr. Transmission shop.  However, there will sometimes be some unexpected circumstances that require service that can be preventable. With our busy daily lives, we don’t always think about simple things we may be doing that can hurt the performance of our car.  Here are a few things to keep in mind and prevent an unnecessary trip into the shop for service. Driving near empty. Many people will wait to fill up on gas to when the needle hovers around “E,”. Maybe that is the sign that it is time for a refill.  Other times you may be too busy to stop, or the price at a certain station may be a few cents high.  Aside from taking ... read more

Minor car collisions unfortunately do happen. The driver behind you wasn’t paying attention and didn’t hit the brakes fast enough. Your car was hit hard, but not too hard. Nothing seems to be initially damaged. Or maybe you were trying to back out of an odd-shaped driveway, and moments later, you’re examining a tree or telephone pole with scuff marks and a car that fortunately appears to be fine. You, your passengers and the care are fine. You may think you don’t need to call the insurance company. Life goes on, and so does your car. Well, not so fast. Maybe your car is in good shape and there is no problem.  But you will also want to consider if there is some damage that will impact the performance of your car.  Just as you’d want to get checked out with a doctor if you ever have any doubt about how you felt after a fender-bender, you should think about getting your car a wellness visit after a minor accident. Rear-end collisions can leave a ... read more