After I bought my first car, I have to admit that I never knew the importance of tire rotation. I learned my lesson the hard way when the tread of my front tires wore down very quickly, while my back tires were still in great shape. I thought that the traction of the back two would make up for the front two. I learned I was very wrong one day when I slammed on my breaks while driving in the rain. I rear-ended the vehicle in front of me. Thankfully, no one was injured. However, I learned that if I had rotated my tires regularly, I could have avoided that accident. I know there are many new car owners who don't know much about cars, which have since became a passion of mine, so I decided to create a blog to share all my tips to help others!
The Internet has made shopping a lot easier. This is especially the case when it comes to choosing transmission parts for your vehicle. However, just as with everything else, there is a wrong and a right way to go about this process. If you make an error while shopping online, you could spend too much money or end up with a part you can't even use. Make sure you know what to look for.
Be Prepared To Search
Make certain you understand that transmissions are not one-size-fits-all. Even two vehicles that are the same make and model but of differing manufacturing years can have distinctively different transmission configurations. For this reason, you need to understand exactly what parts are compatible based on your specific manufacturer, model, model year and trim level.
To do this, have your VIN on hand when you are shopping. If the retailer does not support VIN searches, know the size of your engine, whether it is automatic or manual, and the type of drive train you have, such as FWD or 4WD.
Don't Limit Yourself To The Dealership
Although you might not be shopping in the traditional sense, don't forget that you can still shop around online. The dealership or manufacturer website might be the first place you look, but shopping around to third-party sites opens the door for a better deal.
Third-party, or aftermarket, brands aren't only commonly offered at a lower price point than many dealership and manufacturer retailers, but they generally have equal, or even higher, quality standards. This allows you to spend less, but get more. Once you know exactly what part you're looking for, start shopping around for discount transmission parts.
Always Verify The Warranty
The engineers and technicians that design and manufacture transmission parts do so with precision. However, any time humans are involved in a process, there is always a risk for human error. Ensure any part you purchase online comes equipped with a suitable warranty.
Take a solenoid, for example. Even a slight error in the shape of this component can cause it to fail shortly after installation. Without a warranty, you'd be left to foot the bill. Rather than being left to foot a bill for another replacement part, look for retailers that stand behind their products.
As one of the most important systems of a vehicle, it's important that you take special care of your transmission at every level, including purchasing parts. Take your time and choose wisely online.
Share30 November 2016
