A transmission shop for the cars Mill Creek actually drives
Most of the vehicles we see from Mill Creek are newer crossovers, SUVs and minivans, and their transmissions are nothing like the ones from twenty years ago. Many are CVTs. Others have eight, nine or ten speeds. A lot of them send power to all four wheels. KC Martin has the computerized equipment and software to diagnose them, and mechanics who have been repairing transmissions for decades.
Traffic is the real wear
Stop-and-go driving on the Bothell-Everett Highway and 164th keeps a transmission shifting constantly, and that builds heat. Heat is what breaks down the fluid. Car makers class this kind of driving as severe service, and under it the fluid is due sooner than the “normal” schedule says.
Some newer transmissions are labeled as filled for life. The fluid still wears out. We look up what your specific transmission needs and service it with the fluid it was designed for.
Early warnings on a modern transmission
- A shudder or vibration at light throttle
- Engine speed that rises without the car speeding up
- A hesitation pulling away from a stop
- A whine that changes with speed
- A warning light, even if the car seems to drive fine
All-wheel drive adds a few parts
If your vehicle is all-wheel or four-wheel drive, it also has a transfer case or center coupling and a rear differential, each with its own fluid. They’re easy to forget and inexpensive to service. We handle those too, along with differential repair.
What to expect
We inspect the vehicle, tell you what it needs and what it will cost, and wait for your OK. Our goal is to make the experience simple and stress-free, and to get the repair done correctly the first time. Everything we service, and the full list of warning signs, is on our main transmission repair page.