Owning a car is expensive, not only because of the cost of the car itself, but because of the necessary maintenance it requires.
One of the most expensive parts of a car to replace is the transmission. This is why it’s important to notice the signs of a failing transmission as soon as possible, so you can try to repair it before it completely dies.
In this blog, we’ll discuss five ways you can tell if you are having transmission problems, so you can get in front of the issue and save yourself a lot of money.
5 Signs of Transmission Problems
No one wants to hear strange noises coming from their car. This is generally a sign that you’re about to spend a ton of money on repairs or replacements.
Instead of ignoring these noises and other warning signs, you need to take note of them and take your car into a reliable auto shop. You may hate spending money on repairs now, but you’ll end up saving money by being proactive with your car.
Here are five common signs of a transmission problem in your vehicle.
1. You Smell Burning Transmission Fluid
If you start to smell something burning when your car is running, this is a sign that your transmission is overheating, causing the fluid to burn.
This is a problem because the transmission fluid is what keeps all parts of the transmission properly lubricated.
If the fluid is burning, it means you are either running low on transmission fluid, or you have low-quality fluid. You need to add more high-quality fluid to prevent serious damage to your transmission.
2. You Hear Abnormal Engine Noises
If your car starts making strange noises, especially when it’s only in neutral, this is a sign you are having a car transmission problem.
These noises could mean several different things including inadequate transmission fluid or faulty parts that need replacing. If you are hearing noises from your car that you’ve never heard before, take it into the shop right away.
3. The Check Engine Light Turns On
If your check engine light is on, it could mean several things, including that your transmission is starting to go bad. This is a great early indicator that you need to check your transmission.
4. Shaking or Grinding
If you change gears in your car and it makes a noticeable grinding or shaking motion, this is a major sign you are having an issue with your transmission.
Basically, if you change gears and feel anything abnormal, or it just doesn’t transition as smoothly, you should go to an auto repair shop and have them check your transmission.
5. No Response
If you attempt to change a gear and nothing happens, this is a clear sign that something is wrong with your transmission.
Transmissions are meant to allow your car to change gears. So when they are no longer able to do that, it means your transmission is not working properly and you’ll need to take a look at what’s going wrong.
For Additional Information
Transmission problems can be expensive and stressful to take care of, but it’s always best to catch them early on so you can save your transmission, and not have to pay for a replacement.