Shifty Letters PRNDL (Transmission)
January 1, 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
Fears and Gears (Signs of Automatic Transmission Problems)
September 17, 2023
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
Automotive Tips from Tuffy Grand Rapids: A Broken or Damaged Timing Belt
August 13, 2023
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 Grand Rapids.An old timing belt can lose a tooth in the belt allowing it to slip. The engine could stop or misfire. Timin... More
Not-So-Smooth Operator (Transmission Signs of Trouble)
January 1, 2023
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
Transmission Service at Tuffy Grand Rapids in Grand Rapids
September 12, 2022
Let's talk about transmission service. It can be easy for Grand Rapids drivers to forget about getting their transmission serviced because it doesn't need it very often. It's easier for people in Michigan to remember to change the engine oil - you know, every 3,000 miles or 5,000 kilometers. But... More
A Cool and Smooth Transmission in Grand Rapids
July 16, 2022
When it comes to preventive maintenance on our vehicles, most of us Grand Rapids drivers remember to get our oil changed. But services that occur at longer intervals like transmission service sometimes get overlooked. Yet transmission service is part of car care. A poorly maintained transmissi... More
Transmission Care in Grand Rapids, Michigan
July 14, 2022
Do you have any plans around Grand Rapids, Michigan , 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 cool... More
Timing Belt Service to Save Big Bucks in Grand Rapids
April 4, 2021
Your engine is like a finely choreographed dance. All the parts have to work together. If the timing is off at the ballet, dancers crash into each other and fall down. It the timing is off in your engine, it may not run at all. One of the most intricate dances in your engine has to do with the c... More
Gear Up: Transmission Service at Tuffy Grand Rapids in Grand Rapids
August 4, 2019
The transmission system in your vehicle allows you to change gears. Lower gears are power gears. They get your vehicle moving and get it up hills. Higher gears get the vehicle up to speed and get it rolling faster. If you have a standard transmission, then you have to do the work of shifting gea... More
Smooth Shifting in Grand Rapids, Michigan : Transmission Service
June 16, 2019
So you have some exciting plans for the weekend. You're going to take some of your friends out on the boat for some water skiing. Of course, you've gotten the boat all ready. And you haven't forgotten about your tow vehicle. You've gassed it up and even vacuumed it out. However, there is somethi... More