Your vehicle’s transmission is the lifeblood of your vehicle. It essentially determines everything that you do with your vehicle, whether it is the driving experience, acceleration, braking, gear shift or even fuel efficiency. If you have a car with automatic transmission, you may be wondering what are the obvious signs of transmission failure. Here are the most common transmission problems that you may experience.
Slipping Transmission
When you are driving at a certain speed and your vehicle seems to drag or suddenly change speed for no reason, you may be experiencing a slipping transmission. Peculiar high pitched whining noises from the engine can also be a sign of transmission issues. In addition, your car may seem to have starting and accelerating issues and may feel like it is underpowered.
Changing Gears
If your car’s transmission is faulty, you may notice that it is not changing gears as efficiently as it should. The gear shift will not be smooth and you may notice a “clunk” or “thud,” every time the car changes gears.
Delayed response
If you notice that your car takes time to accelerate and move from a still position (for example from when you stopped at a red light), it is a sure sign that your car is experiencing transmission issues. When you shift from “park” to “drive,” if you notice a long pause wherein the car just revs the engine without moving forward, a faulty transmission could be the cause.
Transmission Fluid Leak
Almost all mechanical parts in a car requires some kind of lubricant or fluid to function smoothly. Generally, a vehicle’s transmission fluid is well sealed and must never leak. But if you notice leak spots on your driveway or parking spot, it is worthwhile to get your car checked from Edmonton’s transmission repair shop. Transmission fluid has a bright red colour but can also be brown or dark red. Before refilling transmission fluid by yourself, make sure to refer to the owner’s manual as not following to factory specifications can ruin the transmission further.
Transmission warning light
Usually a warning light by itself, like the “check engine” light, may not mean anything crucial like a transmission problem. But if you notice other symptoms as discussed above, it is best to get your engine diagnosed by a professional. If you have an illuminated display warning it is easier to diagnose it by simply referring to the error codes given in the manual. But for transmission problems, not all issues will have error codes and only a professional may be able to determine the exact issue.
If you have noticed any transmission issues lately with your vehicle or wish to get your transmission repaired or checked, contact Alberta Drive-Line Rebuilders Ltd., for all your transmission related needs.