5 Major Signs of a Failing Automatic Transmission

Your car's transmission is an intricate mechanical setup that controls the discharge of power from the engine to the drive shaft. This system is exposed to a lot of activity and over time will experience a lot of wear and tear. If your car transmission is not well taken care of, your vehicle will experience a number of issues that may require some professional help to fix.

Are gears taking time to Shift?

Are you having difficulty while shifting gears or is the gear taking longer than usual to engage? If that is the case, then there is a problem with the transmission. This is commonly referred to as shifting problem. The earlier you have checked, the better.

Is there slipping when the gear is changing?

This is common, especially while changing between the gears. Slipping is characterized by an unusual sound between the gear shifts. It is also common for gears to take longer before they shift. Slipping is a common sign of a failing automatic transmission.

Are there any Leaks?

It is worthwhile to be constantly checking on the ground of your car garage or wherever your car is parked. Do you notice any fluid that you did not find when you were parking the car? If that is the case, then your car may be having a leak. Leakage is the worst enemy to your transmission, and it can cause serious damage to the vehicle. This applies to both manual and automatic transmissions. Remember, you need the transmission fluid to keep the gear well-greased so as to avoid friction, as too much of it will break the transmission gear.

Is there a burning smell inside your car engine?

A whiff of burning transmission fluid means it is overheating. In addition to keeping the vehicle parts greased, this transmission fluid also keeps the element from burning itself up by providing constant cooling. A mechanic should be able to fix this problem for you.

Do you see the engine light?

You may be tempted to ignore the engine light whenever it comes on. This is a big mistake because the light may come on either for minor or major problems. It is imperative to consult with your mechanic and have the problem fixed at the earliest.

The above issues can be avoided by taking good care of your vehicle. Practice regular maintenance as this is by far the best solution to avoid a completely out of use automatic transmission. It is better to have a regular vehicle checkup and pay a small fee rather than a hefty replacement of the whole system.

Share