Not-So-Smooth Operator (Transmission Signs of Trouble)

March 17, 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

Smooth Shifting in Joliet, Illinois: Transmission Service

January 28, 2024

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

Shifty Letters PRNDL (Transmission)

August 27, 2023

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

A Cool and Smooth Transmission in Joliet

July 3, 2022

When it comes to preventive maintenance on our vehicles, most of us Joliet 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 transmission wil... More

Fears and Gears (Signs of Automatic Transmission Problems)

June 12, 2022

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

Transmission Care in Joliet, Illinois

March 13, 2022

Do you have any plans around Joliet, 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's st... More

Automotive Tips from Tuffy Joliet (South Plainfield): Timing Belt Overview

February 21, 2021

In your engine, valves over each combustion chamber open to allow fresh air in, close during the combustion event, and then other valves open to let out the exhaust. All of this happens over and over thousands of times a minute when you are driving around Joliet. The timing belts important job is... More

Ask Tuffy Joliet (South Plainfield): What Happens When a Serpentine Belt Breaks?

July 12, 2020

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

Good Timing: Proper Timing Belt Replacement Saves Money for Joliet Drivers

June 9, 2019

Knowing how their engine works can help Joliet drivers make informed decisions about auto care and prevent repairs to their vehicles. This is especially true when it comes to timing belts.An engine's power is generated in the cylinders. Inside the cylinder is a piston that moves up and down whil... More

Gear Up: Transmission Service at Tuffy Joliet (South Plainfield) in Joliet

October 29, 2018

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