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How to choose a TRANSMISSION

A car’s performance is important in today’s world. You spend a lot of time in your car and need to be sure it is in working order.

One way to do that is to make sure you check your transmission yearly.

"Common symptoms of a transmission problems are: driving and the motor races up, getting more revolutions per minute (rpm) than it should; erratic or hard shifting of gears, or if you put the car in gear and it doesn't move right away," says Mark Rittgers, owner of Greatstate Transmissions.

If you are having a transmission problem, make sure that you're getting the best service offered. Call different places and compare prices. If you get a really low quote from someone that is way off from the rest, have them put it in writing and also ask in advance if there will be a charge to disassemble and check the internal parts of the transmission. Most important before making a decision based on price -- remember, cheaper is not always better. The quality, warranty, and reputation should be key factors.

“There are a lot of shops in Corpus. One of the main things to look at is their reputation. Make sure they’re members of the Better Business Bureau because they have standards that businesses have to operate under,” Rittgers says. Rittgers suggests finding out how clean the transmission shop you’ve chosen is.

“If you go to a shop and they don’t take care of their facilities, how well are they going to take care of your vehicle?” he asked.

Watch out for transmission shops that try to get you to pay for something you don’t need.

“If somebody is telling you that you need an overhaul without really doing a thorough diagnostic check on it, you need to stay clear of that place,” Rittgers said.