Cold Weather Boosting Business for Phoenix Car Repair Mechanics

David Riccio on KTAR News
Original Air Date: 01/16/13


Cold Arizona Weather Affect on Cars

Has your car been noticeably slow or jerky getting out of the driveway with the cold weather?

"Business increases without fail by over 50% whenever we see extreme cold in the Valley," said Dave Riccio, owner of Tri-City Transmission.

Transmissions react poor to extremely cold weather because that’s when the transmission leaks show up. If you have red puddles in your driveway, this may be you.

"Never ignore a transmission leak. You can take a simple problem and make it much worse by doing this," Riccio said.

Don’t automatically think the worst if your transmission is misbehaving with the cold. Minor transmission leak repairs and topping off transmission fluid are everyday business at Tri-City Transmission when it’s cold.

Never ignore a transmission leak – You can take a simple problem and make it much worse by doing this. It’s never good to run a transmission low on fluid.

If you feel comfortable, you can check the transmission fluid level first to see if you simply have a low fluid issue. If your transmission is low and you want to add fluid yourself, make sure you get the right fluid.

"There are over 30 types of transmission fluid and most retailers don't know the difference. If in doubt, rather than a costly error, seek a professional," Riccio said.

Although tempting, stay away from “Mystery transmission quick fix additives” like “transmission stop leak”. They make great claims and can get you out of a quick jam, but are poison to your transmission and can cost you dearly in the long run.

Co-host David Riccio is the owner of Tri-city Transmission in Tempe, AZ.

Bumper to Bumper radio does on the air every Saturday at 11:00 am on KTAR 92.3 FM in Phoenix, AZ to get this message out. You owe it to yourself and to everyone else on the road to keep your car in great shape because your safety and your well-being depend on it. There is a lot you can do by yourself -- and that is much of what we talk about on our show. But as soon as you know you are stepping outside of your comfort zone - find a qualified mechanic. You will need to get educated, and be prepared to trust an expert when you find one.

Our key staff members have spent their whole lives in the world of auto repair and maintenance. We want to share that expertise with you in an open dialog.