--- title: Automatic Transmission Repair in Reno, NV | A-1 url: https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/services/automatic-transmission/ business: A-1 Transmission (A-1 Transmission Inc) address: 670 East Grove Street, Reno, NV 89502 phone: (775) 829-1333 hours: Monday to Friday 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, closed Saturday and Sunday type: Transmission shop and auto repair shop in Reno, Nevada, since 1968; walk-ins welcome during business hours, appointments suggested --- - [Home](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/) - [Services](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/services/) - Automatic transmission repair # Automatic transmission repair Automatic transmission repair covers the gear sets, clutches, valve body, torque converter and electronics that shift for you. A-1 Transmission in Reno repairs automatic transmissions in cars, trucks, SUVs, RVs and 4x4s, and diagnoses the problem before choosing a repair. [Call (775) 829-1333](tel:+17758291333) [Get directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=A-1+Transmission+Inc,+670+East+Grove+Street,+Reno,+NV+89502&destination_place_id=ChIJZfhkfH4_mYARqc7eV_uhOws)[What is it doing?](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/#checker) 1968 In business since [4.6 ★ 112 Google reviews](https://maps.google.com/maps?cid=809418658926218921) ATRA Member shop M-F 7:30 am to 5:30 pm Symptoms ## Signs that point to this work [Delay when shifting into Drive or Reverse Delayed engagement is a noticeable pause between moving the shifter into Drive or Reverse and feeling the vehicle take hold, often ending in a thud.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/delayed-engagement/)[Shudder or vibration (torque converter) Torque converter shudder is a vibration, much like driving over rumble strips.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/shudder/)[Limp mode / stuck in one gear Limp mode is a protective setting in which the computer holds the transmission in one gear, often second or third.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/limp-mode/)[Transmission slipping A transmission is slipping when the engine revs up but the vehicle does not speed up to match, or it seems to drop out of gear for a moment.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/transmission-slipping/) ## What automatic transmission work generally involves What this work generally involves at a transmission shop: - Checking the fluid level, color and smell - Reading transmission codes and live data - Testing shift quality on a road test - Inspecting the valve body, solenoids and torque converter as needed - A repair, a rebuild or a fluid service, depending on what is found Every vehicle is different: ask what yours will include when you call. Ask about warranty coverage when you call, too. An automatic does its work without asking you to do anything, so when it goes wrong the first sign is usually a feeling: a slip, a thud, a shudder or a delay. The shop sums up its approach in one line: "We will diagnose the situation to determine the kind of service you need." That is how every automatic that comes through the door starts. ## How an automatic decides when to shift Inside the case, fluid pressure applies clutch packs and bands that lock different parts of a planetary gear set. Changing which parts are locked changes the gear ratio. A valve body full of small passages and solenoids routes the fluid, and the vehicle's computer reads speed, throttle and engine load to tell the solenoids what to do. A torque converter sits between the engine and the gears and lets the engine keep turning while the vehicle sits still at a light. That is a lot of moving parts sharing one pool of fluid, which is why fluid condition matters so much and why a small fault in one area can look like a big one. The [guide to how an automatic transmission works](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/how-a-transmission-works/) goes further. ## Problems that point to the automatic Several of these have causes outside the transmission, such as a sensor, a wiring fault or an engine problem that the computer reacts to. Another reason to diagnose before repairing. - The engine revs but the vehicle is slow to respond, covered under [transmission slipping](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/transmission-slipping/) - A pause before the vehicle moves after you select Drive or Reverse, see [delayed engagement](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/delayed-engagement/) - A shake or buzz at steady speeds, often called [torque converter shudder](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/shudder/) - The vehicle stuck in one gear, known as [limp mode](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/limp-mode/) - Fluid on the ground, a burning smell or a rising temperature reading ## What the shop looks at first The shop asks what the vehicle is doing and when, then looks at the basics: fluid level, fluid condition and any leaks. It reads stored codes where there are any and drives the vehicle to see the problem for itself. From there the answer might be a repair outside the case, a repair inside it, or a rebuild. When the work is a full overhaul, the [rebuilds and overhauls page](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/services/transmission-rebuild/) explains it. ## Heat, towing and mountain driving Heat is the enemy of automatic transmission fluid. Reno's normal July high is about 94 degrees Fahrenheit according to NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals, and towing a trailer or climbing toward Tahoe or Mount Rose adds load on top of that. Drivers who tow or haul regularly should read the [towing, summer heat and your transmission](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/towing-heat-and-your-transmission/) guide. ## Which vehicles and what to ask when you call The shop works on automatics in cars, trucks, SUVs, RVs and 4x4s, foreign and domestic. Have the year, make, model and engine ready, plus what the vehicle is doing. Ask about cost, timing and warranty coverage; the shop will answer for your vehicle after it has looked. ### Sources - [Automatic transmission, Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_transmission) - [Automatic transmission fluid, Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_transmission_fluid) - [NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, Reno-Tahoe International Airport](https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/land-based-station/us-climate-normals) Keep reading ## Related pages [Transmission diagnosis Transmission diagnosis is the step where a mechanic finds out what is actually wrong before choosing a repair.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/services/transmission-diagnosis/)[How an automatic transmission works A transmission works by matching the engine's narrow range of useful speed to the wide range of speeds a vehicle needs, using gear ratios.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/how-a-transmission-works/)[What a torque converter does A torque converter is a fluid coupling that sits between the engine and an automatic transmission and lets the engine keep running while the vehicle is stopped in gear.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/torque-converter-explained/)[Transmission fluid service Transmission fluid service replaces the worn fluid that cools, lubricates and operates your transmission.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/services/transmission-fluid-service/) Inside the shop ## The shop at 670 East Grove Street Google reviews ## What drivers say 4.6 ★★★★ ★ [112 Google reviews (read October 18, 2026)](https://maps.google.com/maps?cid=809418658926218921) ★★★★★ A-1 Transmission is my go to Transmission shop. I’ve been going to them for years now. These guys don’t mess around when it comes to Transmissions they know their stuff. I highly recommend A-1 Transmission, if you want the job done right the first time. Google review, January 2026 ★★★★★ Our transmission went out on a Sunday, we called A1 on Monday morning, they got us in that day. Had to rebuild the transmission, and they were done with our truck on Thursday. Google review, March 2024 [Read more reviews](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/reviews/) Answers ## Automatic transmission repair questions Still have a question? Call [(775) 829-1333](tel:+17758291333) during shop hours. More answers are on the [questions page](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/faq/). ### Why does my automatic slip only when it is hot? Heat thins fluid and exposes worn clutches or low fluid levels, so a slip that shows up after a long drive or a climb is a common pattern. It still needs a look; call and describe when it happens. ### Is every automatic transmission problem a rebuild? No. Many problems turn out to be a leak, a sensor, a solenoid or the fluid itself. The diagnosis separates the small repairs from the large ones. ### Can I keep driving an automatic that slips? A short, gentle drive to the shop is often reasonable, but continued driving can add damage. Call first and describe what it is doing. ### Does the shop work on trucks and RVs with automatics? Yes. Trucks, RVs, SUVs, cars and 4x4s are all part of the shop's work. Services ## Other work at the shop [Standard (manual) transmission repair A standard, or manual, transmission is the gearbox you shift yourself with a clutch pedal and a shifter.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/services/manual-transmission/)[Clutch repair and replacement A clutch is the wear item between your engine and a manual gearbox.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/services/clutch-replacement/)[Transfer case repair A transfer case is the gearbox that splits power between the front and rear axles in a four-wheel-drive vehicle.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/services/transfer-case-repair/)[Transmission diagnosis Transmission diagnosis is the step where a mechanic finds out what is actually wrong before choosing a repair.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/services/transmission-diagnosis/)[Transmission fluid service Transmission fluid service replaces the worn fluid that cools, lubricates and operates your transmission.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/services/transmission-fluid-service/)[Oil changes An oil change replaces the engine's used oil and oil filter with fresh ones to keep the engine lubricated and clean.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/services/oil-change/)[Auto repair and maintenance A-1 Transmission in Reno is a transmission shop that also does general auto repair and maintenance for cars, trucks and SUVs.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/services/auto-repair-and-maintenance/)[Transmission repair Transmission repair means finding what is wrong inside or around the transmission and fixing that part.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/services/transmission-repair/)[Transmission rebuilds and overhauls A-1 Transmission rebuilds and overhauls automatic and standard transmissions in Reno, for cars, trucks, RVs and 4x4s.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/services/transmission-rebuild/) ## Not shifting right? 670 East Grove Street, Reno, NV 89502 Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 5:30 pm [What to tell us when you call](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/call/) [(775) 829-1333](tel:+17758291333)