If you drive a car, truck, or SUV with a manual transmission, the pressure plate is an integral part of your vehicle. From Sac Valley Diesel in Sacramento, here’s what you need to know.

At Sac Valley Diesel in Sacramento, CA, transmissions are our specialty. We know exactly how they work and exactly how to maintain and repair one. You know you have a transmission, and you know it’s important, but what does it actually do? Here’s the simple answer to a complicated question.

The term “overdrive” is one you are most likely familiar with. What is overdrive though, really, and why is it important? Sac Valley Diesel in Sacramento, CA has the answer.

At Sac Valley Diesel in Sacramento, our goal is to keep your car, truck, or SUV shifting and riding as smoothly as it did the day it rolled off the lot. A big part of that is the mounting hardware that keeps the moving parts in your drivetrain running smooth.

Sometimes your car, truck, or SUV stops performing quite like it used to. At Sac Valley Diesel in Sacramento, we can fix that. A simple but common issue on vehicles equipped with a manual transmission is shifter bushing issues. Your shifter has a bushing on the end of it, where it connects to the actual transmission. Its purpose is to provide tight, smooth shifting. 

You’ve probably heard the term “transmission flush” before at some point in your automotive experience. But what exactly does it mean to have your transmission flushed, and why does it matter? Sac Valley Diesel in Sacramento, CA has the answers.

“Transfer case” is a term you may have heard in discussions about transmissions. But what is it, and what does it do? Sac Valley Diesel in Sacramento wants to keep you up to date and knowledgeable in your vehicle. Different aspects of your vehicle provide different issues and solutions.

At Sac Valley Diesel in Sacramento, we understand the importance of keeping up with and understanding the latest in automotive technology. Gone are the days when fluids and vacuum lines were all that controlled the function of your engine and transmission, and we’ve moved into an era where computer control reigns supreme.

You may occasionally hear the term “transaxle” used in place of “transmission” for your car or SUV. Is there a difference, and if so, what is it? Sac Valley Diesel in Sacramento is here to help.

You’ve heard the term “slipping transmission” before, and you know it’s nothing good. What exactly does a transmission slip feel like, and how much of a problem is it if your transmission is slipping? At Sac Valley Diesel in Sacramento, CA, our expert technicians have diagnosed and repaired every type of transmission issue in the book. Here’s a short explanation of transmission slippage, and what action you should take to get rid of it.

The condition of your transmission fluid can tell you a lot about the condition of the transmission itself. At Sac Valley Diesel in Sacramento, CA, we want to help you be aware of what to look for and what we look for when servicing your transmission. 

Your drivetrain is where most of the process of moving your vehicle occurs. The drivetrain includes all the parts powered by the engine to turn the wheels, including the transmission, axles, or driveshafts that combine efforts to propel your car forward (or backward, when you’re in reverse.) At Sac Valley Diesel in Sacramento, CA, our drivetrain specialists are well equipped to keep your car, truck, or SUV reliably on the road and running smoothly along.

Leaky transmissions can be a pain. Not only do they make a mess on the underside of your car, and in your driveway, but the transmission fluid is expensive and inconvenient to deal with. At from Sac Valley Diesel in Sacramento, CA we want you to be an informed driver so here’s some information about where transmission leaks start, and how to end them.

At Sac Valley Diesel in Sacramento, CA, we’ve seen and diagnosed every warning light in the book. Many people ignore their check engine light, and while it isn’t advised, often get away with it. Transmission warning lights are different, however. Here's what it means and what you should do when it comes on.

Unless you use your vehicle to tow every day for work, odds are you haven’t paid much attention to your truck, SUV, or crossover’s towing capacity. Maybe you’re looking to buy a boat for some summer fun or just need to rent a trailer to get your belongings from one dwelling to the next. Whatever the reason for pulling something behind your vehicle, it’s important to get a firm grasp on what exactly your towing capacity means. Understanding how each of the components in your vehicle contributes to your overall tow rating can keep you from putting undue stress on your rig and keep you and your family safe.

Performance chip installation is one of the perks of diesel truck ownership. At Sac Valley Diesel in Sacramento, our mechanics can professionally tune and install a chip for any application, whether you drive a Cummins, Powerstroke, Duramax, or otherwise.

Transmission malfunctions are sometimes hard to pin down and might even go unnoticed. A transmission slip can manifest itself in a lot of different ways because there’s not a universal or consistent way to describe it. Since it will vary based on the vehicle, how bad the issue is, and what components are at fault, here are some symptoms to look for in your vehicle.

It’s likely you’ve been exposed to conflicting opinions about having your transmission fluid replaced. You may have heard that cars over a certain mileage should not have the transmission fluid flushed and replaced, because it could damage the transmission, or you may have had someone tell you the first thing you should do at any sign of trouble is have your transmission flushed. At Sac Valley Diesel in Sacramento, our expert mechanics have the answers you’re looking for.

Transmissions are complex, and over time they will wear out and eventually break. Knowing what to look for will play a key role in preventing your transmission from failing prematurely. At Sac Valley Diesel in Sacramento, CA we want to give you some insight on how your transmission works and how it can fail.

Manual transmissions are durable, reliable pieces of equipment. Still, sometimes problems arise. Sac Valley Diesel in Sacramento has the answer to a question that plagues many manual transmissions; why does my transmission pop out of gear?