U-joints are a small, simple component - in fact, they have changed much since the very first automobiles. However, on any vehicle with a driveshaft, its ability to move depends entirely on the u-joint being there. You’ll often hear “maybe it’s the u-joints” as a solution offered for problems with a vehicle - but what are they, what do they do, and how do you know if yours is bad? Hipps Automotive in Simpsonville, SC has the answers.

At Hipps Automotive in Simpsonville, our priority is keeping your transmission shifting smooth and running strong for years to come. While proper maintenance, driving habits, and a myriad of other conditions affect the life and reliability of a transmission, there are also ways to increase the overall efficiency of your unit, even above stock performance.

At Hipps Automotive in Simpsonville, our mechanics have diagnosed and repaired every transmission problem in the book. We’d like to pass some of our knowledge along to you, in order to help you understand your transmission a little better. Here, we discuss the synchronizers in your manual transmission, and how to know if one of yours is faulty.

If you drive a car, truck, or SUV with a manual transmission, the pressure plate is an integral part of your vehicle. From Hipps Automotive in Simpsonville, here’s what you need to know.

At Hipps Automotive in Simpsonville, SC, transmissions are our specialty. We know exactly how they work and exactly how to maintain and repair one. You know you have a transmission, and you know it’s important, but what does it actually do? Here’s the simple answer to a complicated question.

The term “overdrive” is one you are most likely familiar with. What is overdrive though, really, and why is it important? Hipps Automotive in Simpsonville, SC has the answer.

At Hipps Automotive in Simpsonville, our goal is to keep your car, truck, or SUV shifting and riding as smoothly as it did the day it rolled off the lot. A big part of that is the mounting hardware that keeps the moving parts in your drivetrain running smooth.

Over the past decade, vehicles with CVTs, or Continuously Variable Transmissions, seem to have taken over the market. While many people have different opinions on CVT transmissions, what are they, and how do they work? Hipps Automotive in Simpsonville has a simple explanation for you.

Sometimes your car, truck, or SUV stops performing quite like it used to. At Hipps Automotive in Simpsonville, we can fix that. A simple but common issue on vehicles equipped with a manual transmission is shifter bushing issues. Your shifter has a bushing on the end of it, where it connects to the actual transmission. Its purpose is to provide tight, smooth shifting. 

You’ve probably heard the term “transmission flush” before at some point in your automotive experience. But what exactly does it mean to have your transmission flushed, and why does it matter? Hipps Automotive in Simpsonville, SC has the answers.

You’ve probably heard the term “transmission flush” before at some point in your automotive experience. But what exactly does it mean to have your transmission flushed, and why does it matter? Hipps Automotive in Simpsonville, SC has the answers.

“Transfer case” is a term you may have heard in discussions about transmissions. But what is it, and what does it do? Hipps Automotive in Simpsonville wants to keep you up to date and knowledgeable in your vehicle. Different aspects of your vehicle provide different issues and solutions.

At Hipps Automotive in Simpsonville, we understand the importance of keeping up with and understanding the latest in automotive technology. Gone are the days when fluids and vacuum lines were all that controlled the function of your engine and transmission, and we’ve moved into an era where computer control reigns supreme.

You may occasionally hear the term “transaxle” used in place of “transmission” for your car or SUV. Is there a difference, and if so, what is it? Hipps Automotive in Simpsonville is here to help.

You’ve heard the term “slipping transmission” before, and you know it’s nothing good. What exactly does a transmission slip feel like, and how much of a problem is it if your transmission is slipping? At Hipps Automotive in Simpsonville, SC, our expert technicians have diagnosed and repaired every type of transmission issue in the book. Here’s a short explanation of transmission slippage, and what action you should take to get rid of it.

The condition of your transmission fluid can tell you a lot about the condition of the transmission itself. At Hipps Automotive in Simpsonville, SC, we want to help you be aware of what to look for and what we look for when servicing your transmission. 

Hydraulic power has a lot to do with how your transmission operates. There are some basic hydraulic components that keep your transmission running smoothly.

Your drivetrain is where most of the process of moving your vehicle occurs. The drivetrain includes all the parts powered by the engine to turn the wheels, including the transmission, axles, or driveshafts that combine efforts to propel your car forward (or backward, when you’re in reverse.) At Hipps Automotive in Simpsonville, SC, our drivetrain specialists are well equipped to keep your car, truck, or SUV reliably on the road and running smoothly along.

Leaky transmissions can be a pain. Not only do they make a mess on the underside of your car, and in your driveway, but the transmission fluid is expensive and inconvenient to deal with. At from Hipps Automotive in Simpsonville, SC we want you to be an informed driver so here’s some information about where transmission leaks start, and how to end them.

At Hipps Automotive in Simpsonville, SC, we’ve seen and diagnosed every warning light in the book. Many people ignore their check engine light, and while it isn’t advised, often get away with it. Transmission warning lights are different, however. Here's what it means and what you should do when it comes on.