5 Signs Your Vehicle's Transmission Has A Problem

 

5. Loss Of Power

Whether you've got a standard or automatic transmission, worn components can cause you to lose a lot of engine power to transmission slip. That means the clutch disc is too worn out to create the necessary friction in a manual transmission. In an automatic transmission, this is often due to very old and dirty transmission fluid. In either case, if the engine is running smooth and revving high, yet it's not translating to the power and acceleration you expect, the transmission might be to blame. You'll also get poor fuel economy! So, get this problem addressed by the professionals at Capitol.

 

4. Rough, Grinding Shifts

Meshing spinning gears together without grinding isn't exactly trivial. That's why transmissions are so sophisticated. Synchronizers and lubricating fluids help to smooth out these mechanisms. However, if you've got bad synchros or dirty transmission fluid, the gears may not be getting the lubrication they need and they may not mesh together perfectly. This can lead to rough shifts that buck the whole vehicle when the car changes gear, or an unpleasant grinding that just sounds like bad news! If the whole vehicle shakes or jerks when shifting gears, that's a sure sign your transmission has a problem.

3. Engine Dies When Shifting Gears

Thanks to the transmission fluid, an automatic transmission can spin freely while the vehicle is stopped and in drive. So, when you're waiting at a stop light, all you have to do is hold your foot on the brake. However, if the fluid becomes old and dirty, or your transmission develops a fluid leak and it's low on transmission fluid, you may find the vehicle stalls when you accelerate, shift into reverse or shift into drive. Usually, this problem can be fixed by addressing any leaks and refilling the transmission with fresh fluid.

 

2. Transmission Will Not Stay In Gear

If the transmission skips a particular gear, or pops out of a gear quickly for no apparent reason, there may be wear inside the transmission. Usually a problem associated with manual transmissions, this is often due to bad synchros.

1. Burning Smells & Bad Noises

The only sounds you should hear as you drive is the purr of the engine and maybe your stereo. The only smell you should detect ought to be coming from the christmas tree air freshener. But, if you detect a growling or roaring noise coming from under the vehicle as you drive, or you notice burning smells, that could be a major problem with the transmission. The transmission may be low on fluid or there may be internal damage causing gears to grind together, creating excess friction and heat -- also creating noises and odors as a byproduct.