The hydraulic system in your transmission is responsible for telling the mechanical components what to do, and when to do it. In order to better understand how your transmission works, it’s important to understand the mechanical components of it.

Sometimes it is EASY to see if your car or truck needs to come into our shop for professional repairs! 
1.  You see steam rising from the engine!
2.  The Check Engine Light is on!
3.  The engine starts, but there is an odor that is not right.
4.  You hear grinding or thumping noises.

It is often the last thing you check and statistically, most people ignore their tires, yet tires are undoubtedly a critical safety component on a vehicle. Here at American Auto Clinic in Albuquerque, NM, we know where the rubber meets the road affects traction, handling, steering, stability, and braking. Because of this, sudden tire failure can have serious consequences, especially if it occurs when operating at high speeds. We thought it important to share the real facts about tires for our area drivers.

Vehicle maintenance can be expensive. However, when it comes to owning a car, truck, or SUV, the only thing more expensive than maintaining one is doing no maintenance at all. Here’s why, from American Auto Clinic in Albuquerque, NM.

Everyone from mechanics, to your uncle that works on cars, has at some point given you advice concerning engine oil. The fact of the matter is that while we are familiar with words like “synthetic” and “oil weight,” many people don’t know exactly what the terminology means, or why common knowledge about oil exists in the form that it does. At American Auto Clinic in Albuquerque, NM, we keep things clear and simple. The more you know about your vehicle, the better equipped you are to keep it maintained, and we know a thing or two about vehicles. We have compiled a short list of common myths for you, most of which you’ve heard, but maybe never second guessed.

Do you need new brake pads? Most of the time, if you think you do, the answer is yes. While a lot of auto parts stores sell brake pads with lifetime warranties, don’t be misled...brake pads will still wear down.

You’ve determined it’s time to get rid of the engine you have, along with all of its issues. You’re probably considering getting something new altogether, and you’re tired of this one giving you issues. American Auto Clinic in Albuquerque, NM is here to help you make the call.

If your car, truck, or SUV has really been put through the wringer, it might be time for a new one. However, before you decide to throw in the towel there are a few things you should consider.

You have determined your Cummins, Duramax, or Powerstroke engine needs to be replaced. You might be on the fence about whether you should replace the engine in your diesel, or just get a new truck. At American Auto Clinic in Albuquerque, NM, we’re here to help.

At American Auto Clinic in Albuquerque, NM, we know that the key to keeping a transmission reliable and in shape is taking care to prevent an issue in the first place. Here, we’ll explore a condition that has a lot of potentials to cause your transmission harm; overheating.

At American Auto Clinic in Albuquerque, NM, we see our fair share of warning lights and dashboard notifications. If your ABS light is illuminated, here’s what you need to know.  First, it should be noted that the ABS light is supposed to illuminate for a few seconds after you turn the key, as part of a system test. If the light stays illuminated or comes on again randomly, there’s an issue somewhere that must be addressed.

A quality product is only as good as the quality of the installation. You’re dropping some serious money on an engine replacement, on a car that’s worth even more. American Auto Clinic in Albuquerque, NM is here to make sure you get the quality install you need.

Road trips are a lot of fun, and often unpredictable. For all the miles you will be driving we always recommend preparing for any situation. With this checklist from American Auto Clinic in Albuquerque, you’ll be prepared for whatever comes your way.

Has the day finally come to replace your engine? If your engine is tired, worn out, and problematic, we can help at American Auto Clinic. First, let's take a look at remanufactured engines; what they are, what ‘remanufactured’ means and why they’re a great way to give your car a new life.

Once your engine is installed, you’ll want to keep it running right. American Auto Clinic in Albuquerque, NM has you covered. Sometimes, engines just wear out - however, most of the time they meet an early demise as a result of improper maintenance. Keep your engine running like new by maintaining it the way your technician recommends.

As cars become more technologically advanced, the importance of your vehicle’s battery becomes more important. In the old days, a car battery essentially worked, or it didn’t; if it was good enough to start the car, it was good enough. Modern vehicles are a different story. A faulty battery can cause a variety of issues, including engine codes, sensor failures, irregular transmission behavior, and the list goes on.

Battery failure often causes issues that are commonly misdiagnosed, and in the hands of the wrong auto repair shop, a mechanic may spend hundreds of your hard-earned dollars chasing problems that don’t exist. At American Auto Clinic in Albuquerque, NM, our mechanics are familiar with modern vehicles and the problems that accompany them.

Our fleet truck customers do not need to spend valuable time in the shop with transmission issues due that could have been avoided by servicing their fleet vehicles based on their owner's manual recommendations!  Especially if it is simply changing a clogged filter, changing fluids or clutch issues!  Our transmission technicians here at American Auto Clinic in Albuquerque believe that service = saving high repair bills!   Therefore, we believe in a proactive approach!

If you drive a performance or luxury vehicle, you know that your precision engineered equipment demands precision tuning. At American Auto Clinic in Albuquerque, NM, we specialize in high-end imports and performance vehicles and keeping them up to par.

We see this with our fleet customers, our regular Albuquerque car pool drivers and our diesel truck drivers so it isn't just one type of driver that ends up with a nightmare on their hands costing thousands of dollars to repair, asking about the costs of a JASPER replacement engine!  The fact is your driving habits and maintenance habits can easily avoid this issue!  6 EASY STEPS - Service, Tires, Don't Ignore Service Engine Lights, Keep it Clean & Stop Driving Crazy!

Have you ever noticed your dashboard ABS icon lit up? If you have it means there is an issue that needs to be diagnosed, ABS issues don’t need to be ignored long. The anti-lock braking system, or ABS, is an important feature on every modern car, truck, or SUV. It has been legally mandated since 2013 in the US but was standard on almost every vehicle even prior to that. Here’s what you need to know to make sure your ABS system doesn’t fail, from American Auto Clinic in Albuquerque, NM.

Automatic transmissions aren’t easily understood outside of specialists like those at American Auto Clinic in Albuquerque, NM. While it would be impossible to teach you enough to make you a transmission expert in a series of articles, what we can do is give you the fundamental knowledge you need to have a good idea of what your transmission is doing, and how it works.