Transmission Service at Johnny's Automotive
Slipping, harsh shifts, shudder, or a warning light. We scan for codes, check the fluid, and road test it before anyone talks about replacing a transmission.
My car is shifting funny. Does that mean I need a transmission?
Most shifting complaints turn out to be something smaller than a transmission. Slipping, a harsh or delayed shift, a shudder at highway speed, a light on the dash. Every one of those can come from a solenoid, a failing sensor, a wiring problem, low fluid, or fluid that has stopped doing its job. Those are ordinary repairs with ordinary bills. So we find out which one you have before anybody says a word about replacing anything.
Diagnosis runs the same way every time. We scan for codes and read the live data the transmission is reporting, check fluid level and condition, then drive the vehicle and try to reproduce what you felt. The road test earns its place, because "it hesitates from a stop when it is cold" points somewhere very different than "it shudders at 45 in top gear." Your description is part of the diagnosis, so tell us exactly what you noticed and when it happens.
Automatics, manuals, and CVTs fail in different ways and we treat them that way. An automatic shifting hard or late is often electronic or hydraulic before it is mechanical. A manual that fights you getting into gear usually comes back to the clutch, the hydraulics that operate it, or the linkage, not the gearbox. A CVT does not shift in the usual sense at all, so a shudder or engine speed that climbs out of step with your acceleration means something specific, and we test it against what the manufacturer says that unit should be doing.
You get the digital inspection with photos on your phone, the fluid included, and a plain explanation of what we found. If the answer turns out to be a solenoid and a fluid service, we are happy to be the ones who tell you that.
What's come through the shop lately
At our Haines City shop
1 transmission service job at our Haines City shop in the last 90 days.
Vehicle
What we found
2015 Chrysler Town & Country
Transmission Service · Nov 2026
Check Engine Light and Stalling When Coming to a Stop
At our Haines City shop, the team began with an initial assessment and a digital safety inspection.
At our Lake Wales shop
2 transmission service jobs at our Lake Wales shop in the last 90 days.
Vehicle
What we found
2002 Suzuki XL7
Transmission Service · Oct 2026
Suzuki XL7 Transmission Won't Go Into Reverse
The technician noted a declining transmission assembly.
2012 Ford Escape
Transmission Service · Oct 2026
Car Jumping and Bouncing After Sitting for Hours
The technician found that all previous repairs were OK, then duplicated the concern and traced it to a torque converter/transmission shudder that was starting…
At our Frostproof shop
1 transmission service job at our Frostproof shop in the last 90 days.
Vehicle
What we found
2009 Ford Ranger
Transmission Service · Sep 2026
Shifting Funny Before Other Scheduled Work Began
The team at our Frostproof shop started with the transmission concern before the other scheduled work.
At our Wauchula shop
1 transmission service job at our Wauchula shop in the last 90 days.
Job
What we found

Transmission Service
Sep 2026
Transmission Overheat Warning Message on the Dashboard
The technician started with an initial assessment at no charge and replaced the transmission oil cooler thermal bypass valve at the Wauchula shop.
At our Sebring shop
1 transmission service job at our Sebring shop in the last 90 days.
Vehicle
What we found
2013 Ford Transit Connect
Transmission Service · Sep 2026
Do I Need Programming After a Used Transmission Swap?
The technician performed the Automatic Transmission Program / Re-learn for the new transmission at our Sebring shop.
Why choose Johnny's Automotive for transmission service
We diagnose before we use the word transmission
This is the repair people fear most, which is exactly why it deserves testing instead of a guess. Codes, fluid, and a road test come first, and plenty of these visits end with a much smaller repair.
The technician who tests it is the one who drives it
Our ASE certified techs road test the vehicle themselves rather than working from a note on a ticket. What you felt and what the scan tool says have to line up before we recommend anything.
You see the codes and the fluid, not a summary of them
The digital inspection sends photos to your phone, so the fluid condition and what we found are yours to look at. Nobody should approve transmission work based on a description over the counter.
What customers say about our transmission service work
Ramon is great. Was very honest on repair of my bmw transmission. Just moved to wachula. Johnny's will be my repair shop.
Randy Mayer
Verified Google Review
Johnny's was great they kept me informed of the transmission replacement every step of the way. I would recommend them to anyone needing car repairs.
Gregory Grams
Verified Google Review
I was originally quoted $6–9k by my dealership for a full transmission replacement or told to consider buying a new car. I decided to get a second opinion and called Johnny’s, and I’m so glad I did. Instead of jumping straight to the most expensive option, they were willing to try servicing the transmission first—and it worked. I ended up spending far less than expected. Friendly, honest, and genuinely looking out for their customers. Highly recommend.
Breanna Robbins
Verified Google Review
I dropped off my car due to problems with acceleration. They took it right away. I was called and told it was my transmission. Unfortunately, the price was more than I could afford for a repair, even after a discount. So I had to pick it up. They were very nice and didn't charge me for diagnostics. The station is very clean. I am still trying to gather the funds, and will contact Johnny's ASAP. I don't need a new car payment.
Christine Catalano
Verified Google Review
A big thank you to the team at Johnny’s Automotive for the excellent service on Maria’s 2019 Honda CR-V. We’ve been catching up on a lot of preventive maintenance lately, and the final step was having the CVT transmission professionally flushed and serviced. From the service writers to the ASE-certified technicians, the entire team was outstanding — professional, knowledgeable, fast, and fair with pricing. It’s refreshing to find an automotive shop that truly takes pride in doing the job right and treating customers with respect. The CR-V is smooth & beautiful, we left with great confidence in the work that was performed. Highly recommend Johnny’s Automotive to anyone looking for honest, dependable service. Thank you again for taking such great care of us! -Mike & Maria Back on May 1 for a transmission flush on my Hyundai Kona the transmission was running fine, but you have to keep up on the preventive maintenance. A complete thorough job was done at a reasonable price and the staff is very friendly. We have found our service location for years to come. Thank you to the team at Johnnny’s automotive! 🚗👍🏼💯 Johnny’s Automotive delivered a true five-star experience. They were professional, honest, and genuinely customer-oriented from start to finish. They handled a major repair on our CR-V with confidence, kept us informed, and treated us with respect throughout the process. It’s refreshing to find a shop that still believes in great customer service. Highly recommend! Mike & Maria
Mike Schuwerk
Verified Google Review
After an accident that totaled her vehicle, I bought a used car in Indiana and delivered it to my daughter who goes to school in Lake Wales, Florida. I had some issues on the way I had them inspected. They found several things that needed to be corrected immediately, including brakes and transmission fluid and a new alternator. He showed me everything they were going to replace via pictures. Repairs were done in a day. They even stayed over to make sure the repairs were done to my satisfaction. I told him it was for my daughter. Had to treat the car like their daughters were driving it. They told me we will take care of her. That's what I needed to hear. Being from out of town, I didn't know who to trust. The Google reviews were great for Johnny's. I was not disappointed. I highly recommend these guys. This was for the Lake Wales location.
Terry Hunt
Verified Google Review
Transmission Service questions, answered
Common questions about our transmission service.
Can you tell me it is not the transmission before I commit to anything big?
That's the point of diagnosing it first. Codes, fluid condition, and a road test usually tell us whether we're looking at an electronic problem, a hydraulic one, or real internal damage. You get that answer before you get a decision to make.
What does the road test tell you that a scan tool can't?
It tells us what the vehicle does under load in the exact conditions where you feel the problem. Plenty of shift complaints only appear cold, or only at a particular speed, or only under hard acceleration. A code tells us where to look, and the drive tells us what is actually happening.
Do you work on CVTs?
We do, and they get diagnosed on their own terms. A CVT has no fixed gears, so the symptoms and the acceptable behavior are different from a conventional automatic. We check it against what the manufacturer specifies for that unit rather than against how an automatic should feel.
The light went off on its own. Should I still bring it in?
Yes, because the code usually stays stored even after the light clears. That stored history is genuinely useful, and it disappears if enough drive cycles pass without the fault repeating. Coming in while we can still read it saves guessing later.
Is it safe to keep driving while I wait for an appointment?
It depends on what it's doing. Slipping under load, a burnt smell, or a transmission that drops out of gear are reasons to stop driving it and call us. A minor shift quality complaint usually is not, and we'll tell you plainly which one you have when you describe it.
Choose your shop

Haines City, FL
4.8 (2,067) as of Nov 20264.8 out of 5, from 2,067 Google reviews, as of November 2026
31600 U.S. 27
Mon to Fri, 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM; Sat and Sun, closed

Frostproof, FL
4.8 (162) as of Nov 20264.8 out of 5, from 162 Google reviews, as of November 2026
101 North Scenic Highway
Mon to Fri, 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM; Sat and Sun, closed

Lake Wales, FL
4.8 (546) as of Nov 20264.8 out of 5, from 546 Google reviews, as of November 2026
323 North Scenic Highway
Mon to Fri, 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM; Sat and Sun, closed

Sebring, FL
4.7 (172) as of Nov 20264.7 out of 5, from 172 Google reviews, as of November 2026
435 North Orange Street
Mon to Fri, 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM; Sat and Sun, closed

Wauchula, FL
4.9 (34) as of Nov 20264.9 out of 5, from 34 Google reviews, as of November 2026
201 North 6th Avenue
Mon to Fri, 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM; Sat and Sun, closed

Winter Haven, FL
4.8 (592) as of Nov 20264.8 out of 5, from 592 Google reviews, as of November 2026
5100 Dundee Road
Mon to Fri, 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM; Sat and Sun, closed
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