Not-So-Smooth Operator (Transmission Signs of Trouble)
November 3, 2024
You are heading down a flat, newly paved street when all of a sudden you feel it. Your vehicle jumps a little bit when you're accelerating and changing gears. You know it's not the surface of the road because it's smooth as silk. So what did you just feel? That kind of jumpingor grinding or sl... More
Shifty Letters PRNDL (Transmission)
June 9, 2024
You probably figured out those shifty letters. They're what you see on your automatic transmission shifter and stand for Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive and Low. Your automatic transmission is one of the great automotive inventions; here are some ways you can keep yours working well. Maintain you... More
Transmission Care in Loves Park, Illinois
September 16, 2020
Do you have any plans around Loves Park, Illinois, for the weekend? Maybe you and some friends are taking the boat up to the lake. Maybe you'll be having a lot of fun water skiing and doing a little fishing.You got the boat all ready. It's all gassed up. You packed lots of snacks and the cooler'... More
Transmission Service at Tuffy Rockford in Loves Park
August 28, 2020
Let's talk about transmission service. It can be easy for Loves Park drivers to forget about getting their transmission serviced because it doesn't need it very often. It's easier for people in Illinois to remember to change the engine oil - you know, every 3,000 miles or 5,000 kilometers. But pr... More
Fears and Gears (Signs of Automatic Transmission Problems)
August 16, 2020
Automatic transmissions rule. The old days of shifting your own gears are a thing of the past for most drivers. But automatic transmission trouble can be a big inconvenience for any driver if it comes at the wrong time in the wrong place. Here are some signs to look out for that may mean you ar... More
The Tuffy Rockford Guide to Caring for Your Transmission
August 1, 2020
Most vehicles have automatic transmissions, yet a lot of Loves Park drivers only have a fuzzy understanding about what a transmission does. Think back to the last time you rode a bike in Loves Park. You started out in a lower gear and shifted to higher gears as you went faster. Down shift for hi... More
Automotive Tips from Tuffy Rockford: A Broken or Damaged Timing Belt
June 18, 2020
The timing belt rotates the cam shafts which open and close the valves that allow air, fuel, and exhaust to flow through the engine as it powers your car when you drive around Loves Park.An old timing belt can lose a tooth in the belt allowing it to slip. The engine could stop or misfire. Timing ... More
Ask Tuffy Rockford: What Happens When a Serpentine Belt Breaks?
September 8, 2019
The serpentine belt is aptly named since it snakes around under your hood. It may lack its namesake's fangs, but it sure packs a wallop when it breaks.The serpentine belt powers a lot of engine systems. It runs the alternator, which charges the battery; the water pump (on some vehicles), which co... More
Automotive Tips from Tuffy Rockford: Knowing When Your Timing Belt Should Be Replaced
July 21, 2019
The timing belt in your engine controls the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves. Loves Park drivers need to replace it on a schedule to avoid failure.Timing belts are very difficult to get to, requiring quite a bit of labor to access. Timing belt replacement is one of the more ex... More
Loves Park Car Owners Ask: Why Do I Need to Change My Serpentine Belt?
November 18, 2018
Any Loves Park driver who understands preventive maintenance knows that if it ain't broke, don't fix it is bad auto advice. Replacing a part before it breaks is much less costly for Loves Park residents than repairing the engine damage that comes after a part breaks or fails. A good example of th... More