Your automatic transmission is a critical system in your vehicle and needs proper care and attention by you to ensure long lasting operation. Many people are unaware that the automatic transmission can cost more to replace than an engine. This makes it important that you pay attention to the following symptoms and problems on this page if you want to avoid a major repair.
These Automatic Transmission Symptoms Are Telling You to Pay Attention
Your Automatic transmission is a very complex mechanical and computer driven system. Because of that your automatic transmission can be more expensive to repair than your engine (depending on your particular car). That means you are better off paying attention if one of these symptoms appear rather than ignoring or waiting for it to go away. It can cost you a lot of inconvenience and money if you neglect its service.
1. Grinding or shaking sensation in gear
Your automatic transmission normally operates smoothly when shifting from gear to gear. You shouldn’t feel any grinding, slipping or shaking sensations as your car switches gears. When a transmission is starting to have problems, these symptoms can seem insignificant. But, it is best to pay attention at this point because it will likely become worse with use. If you are already feeling pretty jarring sensations when the car shifts, it’s time to get it in have us look at it. Normally when automatic transmissions have damaged gears they progressively get worse.
2. Car won’t engage or respond when in gear
When you put your car into drive or reverse does it respond immediately or is there a delay? Does the car’s transmission not engage at all when you put it in drive or reverse? These are both issues that may signal a problem. It could indicate a problem with your fluid whose protective properties have degraded and has become thick. In this case a good fluid exchange could help you.
3. Makes Noises: whining, humming or clunking, noisy in neutral
If you suddenly start to hear a whining, humming or clunking noise under your car like you’ve never heard before, you may have transmission trouble. That trouble may likely be minor, but it could signal something worse.
Some noises that come from your transmission can be caused by your automatic transmission fluid breaking down. This fluid has a hefty job of keeping an amazing amount of mechanical gears and components lubricated. With time and use, that fluid loses its protective properties and doesn’t stop that friction. Friction is what damages that complex automatic transmission system.
If you hear clunking noises and suspect it’s coming from the transmission, your transmission may already have an internal part giving out. If that’s the case, it’s important to have a qualified automatic transmission mechanic look at it right away.
4. Smells like its burning
Your car should NOT have a burning smell and this is something to be concerned about. One of the most common causes of a burning smell from the transmission is overheated fluid. Your transmission’s fluid has a super-important role in protecting this very expensive and complex system running properly. Mainly it is lubrication.
When your transmission fluid’s lubricating abilities diminish, as it does with time and mileage, it enables damaging friction between all the parts. Friction causes the breakdown of parts and buildup of debris and likely sludge. All of these problems together eventually lead to a complete transmission breakdown. That is expensive and quite inconvenient.
Sometimes the cause is simply low transmission fluid level. That is usually caused by a leak because in most cars unlike motor oil, transmission fluid doesn’t lessen with time. Also, this can happen with the wrong type of fluid added to your vehicle.
5. Gears Slipping
Does your car slip out of gear or lose traction when you need it? This is a serious safety problem if so. If your transmission is slipping in and out of gears when you’re behind the wheel, and you need to give it the gas to avoid a problem, that is scary.
Your car’s computer tells the transmission when to shift between one gear and another. It tells your car when to send power to your wheels. If something is malfunctioning here the signal is not being properly sent.
6. Low or Leaking Transmission Fluid
Have you seen a bright red or possibly dirty dark red fluid on your driveway or garage floor? You are likely seeing Automatic Transmission fluid. Because transmission fluid should never leak, this could lead to a very serious and complete breakdown of your transmission – which is very inconvenient and costly (often more than a new engine).
Unlike motor oil, transmission fluid does not normally lessen due to time and mileage. So, if you’re seeing that you are low on transmission fluid, then you have a leak somewhere. Low fluid can create great friction in your transmission which will breakdown parts inside and eventually lead to a complete transmission breakdown.
How serious is low or leaking transmission fluid? If you do nothing, it will turn into a very serious problem. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Sometimes a leak is a low-cost service just to replace a leaking gasket or possibly a hose. Just remember, don’t neglect a small problem in your transmission unless you want a big problem later. If you have more questions, give us a call today at Walkers Automotive