Two wheel drive vehicles don’t need a transfer case since the driveshaft comes directly out of the transmission to the wheels. The transfer case is what makes all wheel drive work. So if you’re hearing a strange sound near the transmission or are experiencing issues when shifting then there may be an issue with your transfer case.

It’s important to note that different makes and models will have different transfer cases so you may need to refer to your owner’s manual if you need to know any specifics.

Tip: You should also make sure to check your transfer case fluid every time you get an oil change

Some drivers have complained that their car won’t shift or it’s simply ‘stuck’. This means they can’t get out of 2Hi or 4Hi. Most of the time the problem will be the shift rods being out of place and causing a jam somewhere inside the transfer case.

Others have noticed a chattering type noise coming from their transfer case when they shift gears. This can be caused by a bad driveshaft that needs to be replaced.

If you’re unfamiliar with servicing and repairing your own vehicle then it would be best to bring your car in to 2J’s Automotive and let the expert mechanics take care of it for you. Before they do anything they will give your car a free diagnostic test ($80 value) to see where the problem is coming from so they know what services and repairs are required.

After offering suggestions on repairs you may need you will be able to take get it taken care of at your convenience. Either way bring your car in if you have any questions or simply call us at 817-232-9866.

A common indicator that your brakes need to be looked at is if you start to hear a grinding or screeching sound whenever you apply your brakes. At first you might notice this only in the morning or in cold weather but it’s an early indicator that something needs to be fixed or replaced.

Note: If you catch it early enough the repair won’t be that expensive. Most of the time your brake rotors or pads need to be resurfaced or replaced.

Sometimes drivers will complain about how the brake pedal feels when they apply it. Another common problem that can occur is the brake pedal goes down too far when being pressed. This can make the driver very uncomfortable since it can feel like the car doesn’t want to stop.

The best way to combat this problem is to make sure your brake fluid levels are where they should be. If the problem persists or you notice the car even moves a bit further when the brakes are fully applied then the brake pads/shoes may be worn out.

Another common problem that occurs with brakes is when braking the pedal, or even the entire vehicle, will vibrate. This is usually a sign your rotors are warped caused by overheating. Sometimes it could be a problem with your alignment but if you’re even unsure then bring it in to the experts who can take care of it at 2J’s Automotive.

The mechanics at 2J’s Automotive can give you a free diagnostic test that most other places won’t even offer and find out what exactly is wrong with your brakes. They will inform you of the issue and offer recommended services and repairs so you can drive safely and securely on the open road.

Give us a call at 817-232-9866 to make an appointment or if you have any questions regarding your car brake system.

What Does Your Rear Differential Look Like?

The differential in your vehicle is what basically makes your car’s wheels rotate and drive forward. If you have a four wheel drive vehicle then you will have separate differentials at the front and back of the vehicle. Rear wheel drive vehicles will have a rear differential and it transfers the power from the engine and transmission to your wheels.

It’s hard to see to the naked eye but your wheels spin at different speeds especially when turning. This is because they travel at different distances through a turn. The wheels on the inside of the turn travel a shorter distance therefore travel at a lower speed.

If you think you’re experiencing a problem with your rear differential then the first thing you should look for is to see if your ‘Check Engine’ light is on. If so there are some things you can check for when diagnosing your problem.

Tip: One of the first things you should do is check your differential fluid levels. Any time there is ever a problem check your fluid levels first before any services or repairs are done.

Noise is usually the first indicator that something is amiss. In some cases it will be a noise coming from the back of the vehicle at certain speeds and the noise will more than likely be a whining or humming sound.

Usually you have plenty of time to repair or replace your differential but if the problem persists then it could get more severe. It could lock up or slip due to a faulty pinion gear and you may not be able to drive at all when that happens.

Save yourself the stress and hassle of dealing with it yourself and bring it in to 2J’s Automotive and let the professional mechanics take a look at it for you. After giving it a free diagnostics test they will assess the problem and inform you of what needs to be done next.

They can answer any questions you may have about your differential so call us at 817-232-9866.

Be sure to get signed up for our contest where you can win a FREE Canon Digital Camera. Simply visit us or fill out the form on our website.

In vehicles that have 4 wheel drive the transfer case is what directs power to both ends, or axles, of the vehicle through separate driveshafts. Cars that have a 2 wheel driveshaft don’t need a transfer case because the driveshaft comes directly out of the transmission in the front of the car.

Most transfer cases will have a 4-Hi and 4-Lo mode and this is where a problem can sometimes occur. Since the specifics can vary from make and model so can the problem, but one issue that can come up is your engine will miss gears when shifting. Some people notice this when their car hesitates when accelerating from a stop.

Another problem can occur when you switch from 4-Hi to 4-Lo and vice versa. If it says it is in 4 wheel drive but it is undoubtedly not driving in 4 wheel drive then you may need to get a new transfer case. It is more noticeable when you’re driving uphill or pulling heavy weight so try to take note next time you drive in one of these conditions.

Transfer case troubleshooting can be confusing and it has caused people to ask questions in the past so if you think you have an issue with yours then bring it in to 2J’s Automotive and let the mechanics take a look at it for you. They will give you a free diagnostic test (an $80 value that most other shops don’t even offer) and find out where the problem is coming from and determine what services and repairs need to be done to you vehicle.

Schedule an appointment to have one of 2J’s Automotive’s professionals take care of your car. Give us a call at 817-232-9866 if you have any questions regarding your 4×4 transfer case or anything else regarding your vehicle.

Standard and automatic transmissions have similar builds but different functions and if you think something is wrong then taking care of the problem as soon as possible would be the best course of action.

A leak in the transmission is a common early sign that you should have it serviced or repaired. Most people start to notice a puddle building up underneath their car in areas where they are parked for extended periods of time. The liquid will be a reddish brown color and it will usually be towards the front end of the car.

The next thing you should do is try to determine the seriousness of the leak. How big is it? If it’s just a small puddle with few noticeable spots then the fix can be relatively easy. If the leak is rather larger then you may need to have your transmission resealed.

The location of the leak on the transmission can also determine how much service needs to be done. In some cases you may need to have the transmission taken completely out of the car in order to stop the leak. Otherwise you may be able to apply a transmission stop-leak fluid to stop the leak.

Note: Check your make and model because some fluids work best for different transmissions.

Like with anything that goes with your vehicle, the longer you wait the more expensive the service and repair is going to be. Take care of the issue as soon as possible so you don’t have to worry about it becoming a serious problem.

The experts at 2J’s Automotive have several years experience in transmission repair, replacement and resealing. Schedule an appointment and let their mechanics take care of everything under the engine for you by first giving you’re a free diagnostic test ($80 value).

Call or contact us at 817-232-9866 if you have any questions or concerns about your transmission.

Your car’s coolant and heating system is very important in making sure your vehicle runs smoothly. If you think you’ve been experiencing an issue then there are a couple of different steps you can take to see where the problem is coming from and what you can do to repair or service it.

One of the first signs you will notice is a hotter engine or overheating. Any time there is a problem with your cooling system the car engine will get hotter than it should and that could escalate into more severe problems.

Overheating can be caused by a number of different things. One of the common problems is lack of radiator fluid.

Tip: Checking your radiator and other coolant levels often is a good practice. This can help you spot problems early and can prevent expensive repairs.

There are three major causes in engine overheating:

• Lack of coolant – often created by a leak in the radiator. Symptoms are usually the same in case to case.
• Lack of circulation – caused by a closed thermostat, plugged radiator or bad waterpump. A clear indication is if the car drives fine on the highway but overheats in the city.
• The engine consumes the coolant – a bad gasket head or a broken engine block can caused this. Water in the oil is one of many symptoms to look for.

Once the problem has been identified it is time for the service or repair. Remember that you should flush your car’s cooling system AFTER the repair. Not as the repair. This is also a really good time to flush your cooling system right before summer. It’s also recommended to flush it once a year.

If you don’t feel like you can repair or service the car yourself then bring it in to 2J’s Automotive and let the professionals take care of it for you. They will give it a free diagnostic test, $80 value, and find out what exactly needs to be done to get your car in the best possible condition it can be in.

Give us a call at 817-232-9866 if you have any questions concerning your heating and coolant system or if you want to make an appointment.

Once you’ve diagnosed the problem it isn’t recommended to troubleshoot the problem yourself since the process can be very involved and each make and model can often require different procedures. Not only that but most new makes and models have complex computers that require specialized tools to operate and repair.

Car engine problems can mean a number of different things so it’s very helpful to pinpoint what the problem is and where it is coming from. Below is a brief list of what could be happening to your automobile.

• Engine misfire
• Car vibrates when sitting idle
• Engine makes unusual noises like squealing, squeaking, grinding or ticking
• Engine stalls or loses power when accelerating or reaching top speeds
• Backfires upon ignition
• White smoke emitting from exhaust
• Difficult going uphill

These are some of the more common problems that could be happening to your car and each require a specific repair, but there are a number of different problems that could also require a different service or repair.

If one or more of these things is happening then the first thing you should notice is your ‘Check Engine’ light or ‘Maintenance Required’ light should be on. Most of the time the problem isn’t going to be too severe so you should have some time to schedule an appointment at 2J’s Automotive.

Warning: If your ‘Check Engine’ or ‘Maintenance Required’ light is blinking instead then your vehicle requires immediate attention and it is highly recommended to bring it to an auto shop as soon as possible.

The experts at 2J’s Automotive have extensive experience in servicing and repairing car engine problems along with transmission rebuilds and complete brake service. Summer is right around the corner so don’t wait too late.

Give us a call at 817-232-9866 if you think your engine is acting up or if you have any questions in general and we will be more than happy to help.

Clutch and Flywheel Diagram

Are you also having problems shifting gears? Most of the time it’s going to be the clutch that is causing the shifting problems and not the flywheel. The flywheel connects to the engine and there usually isn’t a whole lot that can go wrong with them.

Every once in a while your flywheel will need resurfacing unless they completely break apart. The clutch is what needs to be looked at if you’re noticing your one or more of the following:

• Clutch slippage
• Clutch shaking or chattering
• Unusual noises in the clutch
• Complete clutch failure or the clutch will not release
• Stiff or stuck clutch pedal

The bottom line is no clutch will last forever no matter how conservative you drive your vehicle. One or more of these problems will happen eventually so it’s best to have an idea of what to look for and what to service or replace.

The cause of these problems could be a number of different things. Oil leakage or contamination, defective cables, warped flywheels, worn bearings, misalignment and a cracked clutch pressure plate could cause the clutch problem in several different areas.

Tip: You can also check the clutch by setting the parking brake and putting the transmission into high gear. Slowly release the clutch pedal and if the engine stalls then it is not slipping. If the engine continues to run or even slows then the clutch is slipping.

Services and repairs for your clutch can be an intricate process and if you’re not comfortable with doing it yourself then you should bring it to 2J’s Automotive and let the expert mechanics do the job for you. They have years of experience in clutch replacement and repair and can ensure your automobile performs smoothly and efficiently.

Give us a call at 817-232-9866 if you have questions about your clutch or just come in and receive a free diagnostic test valued at $80. They’ll run this test to see if anything is wrong with your vehicle and advise you on services and repairs.

Your CV joints, or constant velocity joints, are used in cars that have either front wheel or all-wheel drive. So if this sounds like your car then you should take note of when to service your CV joints.

One of the first things you want to pay attention for is if your car is making strange noises when taking turns or curves. These strange noises could range anything from a thumping, popping, squealing or humming noise. One reason this might happen is if the boot that protects the CV joint is being worn down.

Tip: The CV joint and boot can be found right underneath the front wheel wells and if you see the boot is cracked or split then you should schedule an appointment to have your car serviced.

Like most other problems with your car, the longer you put it off the more expensive the service and repair is going to be. Since the CV joint essentially allows your car to turn properly and maintain front wheel drive you need to make sure it doesn’t start to act up because your car could eventually lock up completely. This is something no one wants to experience on the highway or in neighborhood streets on the way to work.

In some extreme cases the entire drive shaft has fallen out of the car. Avoid these unpleasant situations and bring your car in to 2J’s Automotive where the expert mechanics can service and repair your car. They’ll first give you a free diagnostic test ($80 value) and see if there is some other overlooked items that need to be addressed then they will inform you of what needs to be done and what should be checked on later if it’s not as critical.

Either way 2J’s Automotive has the experience and professionalism to give you the best service for your vehicle in the area. Contact us if you have any questions regarding your boots or CV joints.

It doesn’t take a lot to figure out if your air conditioning isn’t working the way it should. There are some very obvious signs that can tell you something is going wrong with your A/C.

Some signs you may notice are:

• Vents aren’t blowing as cold of air as they were or should
• Warm air is being blown out when the A/C is on
• No air at all is coming out of the vents

These are some of the easiest things to notice when diagnosing a problem with your automobile. Most of the time a bad A/C unit is caused by a leak or faulty O-ring which can cause your car to have no more refrigerant.

In many systems the compressor won’t turn on because of low pressure due to lack of refrigerant. If you know your way around a car then there are a couple of different areas you can check to make sure they are performing the way they should.

You’re going to need to check the serpentine belt and fuses as well as the compressor clutch engagement.

Note: Turning on your A/C while inspecting these components will better help you find the root of the problem.

If you haven’t checked the refrigerant for leaks then be sure to do that since that is what causes most issues with air conditioning systems.

However if you’re unsure of what you should be looking for then bring your car in to 2J’s Automotive and let the expert mechanics examine your car and make sure the air conditioning is working at its full potential.

After giving your car a free diagnostic test, $80 value, they will know exactly what service and repair will be required and get your vehicle running the way it should be. Give us a call at 817-232-9866 to schedule an appointment.