Your transmission is one of the most integral parts of your car. If you’re one of those people who like their cars to move, you’ll need a well-maintained transmission.
While every transmission will act differently, there are key signs that yours might need some attention. Here are the tell-tale signs that your transmission is struggling and that it might need some attention from a qualified automotive specialist.
Lagging
One of the first and most obvious signs that your transmission is playing up is lagging. Your car might lag in several different ways, but generally, it occurs when shifting from park into drive. As the first move you make after starting the car, this is an immediate warning sign that something is wrong with your transmission.
Jerking and Clunking
Do you experience a sudden clunk every time you shift gears? If your car constantly feels like the abrupt start of a rollercoaster ride, then your transmission is in dire need of servicing.Jerking is a similar sign, although it is more embarrassing because it makes you look like a learner again! Irregularity in gear shifting is a certain sign your transmission is in trouble and needs to be inspected.
Whining
If there is a whining sound from the transmission or gearbox, your transmission is trying to tell you that it needs an immediate service. Similarly, if your car is making unusual noises, such as a buzzing, while it is sitting in neutral, that is a sound that shouldn’t be ignored. In fact, whenever you hear anything out of the ordinary (especially if it is ongoing) it’s best to have your car examined.
Falling Out of Gear
This can occur in both manual and automatic cars. If you’re pleasantly cruising in a gear and it all of a sudden slips into neutral, then there is clearly an issue with the transmission that needs to be inspected by a professional mechanic.
Odour
The smell of a burning transmission is equivalent to the smell of leaving your handbrake on whilst driving up Mt. Everest. This odour is produced by either the smell of transmission fluid burning or friction between the gears causing an overheating effect. Either of these two causes means you need to take your transmission in for a service.
Leakage
A leak from the transmission is not something you can delay and drive around on. It needs to be seen by a professional immediately. Often, a leak from a transmission is red in colour. The good news is a leak doesn’t necessarily mean a death sentence and an expensive replacement for your transmission. If you treat a leak as an early warning sign, your transmission can usually be fixed before more extensive damage occurs.
Any of these tell-tale signs can mean that your transmission or gearbox is having significant problems, which could prove costly to repair or replace. To prevent expensive repairs, bring your car in for a service at Carcare Joondalup – We’ll take care of all your transmission troubles.