Transmission Problems - 8 Warning Signs

You may be reading this record because you infer that something is amiss with the self-acting transmission in your car. Often times, population experience what they feel may be a transmission concern but are unsure. Take my advice; it is far best to address these problems early on than to let them evolve into a catastrophic transmission failure.

Transmission

Because the self-acting transmission is the most involved piece of machinery in your entire vehicle, by no means can a list of warning signs be all-inclusive. With that said, here are the 8 most base problems that have been observed by transmission repair specialists over the years. These are the early warning signs that you want to look out for:

1) Leakage. That small pool of pinkish oil that you see when you move your car from its parking spot in the morning is a sign of trouble. Transmissions can leak from nearly 20 dissimilar external seals- some are very simple to repair, while others need more involved service procedures. In any case, the idea is to have the car looked at right away by a fine transmission repair shop because, much like an motor that gets low on oil, a transmission that is low on fluid can fail completely in very short order.

2) Shaking. Sometimes a shaking or bucking sensation is experienced, especially at highway speeds. While this may be an issue of poor motor tune, it could also be a malfunction in the transmission. Take it to an specialist that can tell the inequity and diagnose it for you.

3) Delayed drive or reverse. A noticeably longer than general hesitation for your transmission to engage a gear once the shifter is put in "D" or "R" is someone else sign of a transmission malfunction. These delays can be caused by anything from a low fluid level or a band that is in need of adjustment to an internal transmission seal or clutch pack that is failing. Again, sooner rather than later is the right time to get it checked out.

4) A neutral health on brisk acceleration from a stop or when going around a turn. This is a excellent sign of a low fluid condition. Remember, unlike an motor where it may be general for some oil to be consumed over time, if a transmission is low on fluid it is leaking.

5) Burning smell. A burnt odor can be a sign of a transmission that is overheating or is leaking fluid onto the exhaust. This needs to be addressed immediately- if motor oil or transmission fluid drips onto a hot exhaust it could catch on fire.

6) Check motor light. Today's transmissions are computer controlled and a check motor light can be an indication of a trans problem, even if you don't have a drivability indication of illness yet. Contemporary automobile computers are very sensitive and can detect a transmission slip or malfunction that would be indiscernible to the driver. The light comes on to tell you that something is wrong somewhere- listen to it and get your car checked out!

7) Transmission Slipping. Slipping is a health where the motor is revving but full power is not getting to the wheels. Slipping can be caused by a variety of transmission malfunctions- none of which should be ignored.

8) Harsh shifting and wrong gear starts. A hard shift or wrong gear start either by itself or in conjunction with a check motor light may be a sign that your transmission is in a computer commanded "failsafe" or "limp home" mode. This can be triggered by your vehicle's computer when it detects a transmission fault. The infer for this computer strategy is to let the driver know that there is a problem and to help protect the transmission from supplementary damage while it is "limped" to a shop to be repaired.

While we often fall into the trap of hoping that problems with our vehicles will somehow go away or fix themselves, rarely does it work out that way. Paying attention to and addressing your vehicle's small problems before they turn into larger ones can often help you to avoid costly transmission repairs.