There is a “huge” problem with the five-speed automatic in the aforementioned Pathfinders, Frontiers and Xterras, wrote Lance Wiggins, the technical director of the Automatic Transmission Rebuilders Association, in an e-mail.

As consumers face rising prices at the gas pumps, more and more people are looking into buying a car equipped with a manual transmission instead of an automatic. But that change may not provide the desired effect for most drivers.

That’s because today’s automatics are lighter and more efficient than those of just a few years ago. So much so that only a highly motivated driver will have any hope of wringing substantially higher gas mileage out of a manual transmission.

What’s more, the back-end costs of a manual will quickly eat away at any savings you might receive at the pump. Most drivers can expect to have the clutch replaced as often as every 30,000 miles or so. And when it comes time to sell or trade the car, they can expect a dramatic drop in value with a manual transmission.

For most people, an automatic transmission is a far better choice when buying a new car. They’re more efficient, easier to drive, and last longer than those of just a few years ago.

Automatic transmission repairs are expensive; some can easily cost $2000 or more. So it’s more important than ever to find a shop that will provide quality repairs at a fair price. Here are a few ways you can avoid getting cheated when searching for a transmission repair shop:

1. Get Recommendations — Ask friends and family to recommend a shop where they were treated well and were happy with their work.

2. Look for a Professional Appearance — A clean, organized shop indicates a professional attitude. And that usually carries over into all phases of the business… including their repairs and job pricing.

3. Avoid Phone Estimates — Today it’s virtually impossible to give an accurate estimate over the phone. Any shop that will give you a price before they see the car is probably low-balling you. Expect the price to go up considerably before the job is finished.

4. Ask for a Detailed, Written Estimate — After checking your car thoroughly, the repair center should have a fairly good idea of what’s wrong with your car. They should be able to provide a written estimate that specifies what’s wrong, and what it’ll cost to repair it.

5. Look for Membership in Consumer Organizations — Most reputable shops are members of an organization or association that provides consumer arbitration in the event of a dispute, such as the Better Business Bureau or AAA. ATRA provides this service to its members.

Find a ATRA shop by clicking this link.

You’re driving alone on a dark road, when all of a sudden the Check Engine light on the dash comes on. Oh, no! What do you do now?

In most cases, relax. The Check Engine light is rarely an emergency. It indicates that the computer recognized a problem in one of its systems. Very often that problem is emissions related. But it probably isn’t something that’ll cause any real damage to your car or a safety issue for you. And your car won’t stop running all of a sudden.

After you get home, you’ll want to call your local repair shop and make an appointment to have the system checked. If the light goes out, it probably means the problem is gone for now, but the computer still may have stored a diagnostic trouble code that your technician can retrieve and diagnose.

Your local ATRA Member shop can check your car’s computer system for codes, and diagnose any computer system problems you may experience.

To find the ATRA Member near you, click the Shopfinder link.

The most common cause of automatic transmission failure is heat. You can get more miles out of your transmission by reducing the heat that builds up during normal operation. Here are a few things you can do to help reduce heat, and keep your transmission working longer:

1. Avoid Jackrabbit Starts — Hard accelerations create a lot of friction and heat in the transmission. Take it easy on the gas, and your transmission will live longer.

2. Help the Shift — Most of the friction and wear in the transmission takes place during the shifts. Get to know when your transmission shifts normally. Then, just before the shift, back off on the gas just a bit. That’ll reduce the load on the clutches, and eliminate much of the friction during the shift.

3. Keep the Cooling System in Good Shape — Your car’s radiator also provides cooling for your transmission. And heat damage will take place in the transmission long before the engine appears to overheat. So regular cooling system service can help your transmission run cooler… and last longer.

4. Add a Transmission Cooler — If you travel a lot in extremely high temperatures or carry a lot of weight in your car, an auxiliary transmission cooler is a great way to reduce heat and add years to your transmission’s life.

Use the shop finder link to find an ATRA Member Shop in your area.

Automatic transmissions used in today’s automobiles and light trucks are computer controlled. Computer-controlled transmissions are nothing new; the trend began in the mid-80’s. Over the years, the computer systems have gotten more sophisticated; largely as a result of more stringent fuel-economy demands. But with this sophistication come a few problems as well; they can be finicky at times and it doesn’t take a lot for them to turn on the check engine or check transmission light.

One simple problem that can cause a range of transmission-related problems is low battery voltage from old, worn out battery. If you car’s battery is more than five years old you may begin to see computer-related problems caused by corroded or loose terminals or the battery itself. Here’re some simple maintenance checks you can make to your battery:

1. Make sure the terminal connections are clean and tight. If you have a lot of corrosion on the battery posts and terminal connections you can clean them with a solution of baking soda and water. If you have to remove the connections, be careful; some cars have theft-deterrent systems and disconnecting the battery can disable your radio. Always follow the instructions in your owner’s manual for removing the battery connectors.

2.Measure the voltage of your battery with a digital volt meter. Check the voltage after the engine has been off for at least one hour. The voltage should be a minimum of 12.45 volts. If it’s less, consider replacing the battery.

Regular battery maintenance can help you prevent problems with your transmission, keep you out of the shop and save you time and money in the long run.