How to Troubleshoot Your Car’s Transmission

A guide to looking after your daily driver’s powerhouse

 

Whether you own a front or rear-wheel-drive vehicle, the transmission is what transfers engine power to the necessary gears to change your wheel speed and torque. Simply put, it’s what keeps you going.

Since it’s such an important component of your car, it’s in your best interest to know the warning signs if something is wrong. That way, if you end up taking the car to a mechanic, you’ll walk into the shop with at least a basic understanding of what could be coming next, and you’ll be able to prepare yourself for the potential repairs or replacements. To get you started, the Carolina Pick-N-Pull team has identified a few of the more common symptoms that not all is well with your car’s internal driving force.

 

Check engine lights

The first sign that even the most mechanically challenged drivers see when the transmission is malfunctioning is the “check engine” light on your dashboard. Whenever you see that come on, it’s best not to ignore it. While it doesn’t always indicate a problem with the transmission, it can be a precursor to future issues. If any of the following symptoms occur at the same time that this light comes on, we recommend taking your car to a professional. If it is the transmission, diagnostic equipment can test the car’s computer for the correlating operating code.

 

Leaks

This one may seem obvious, since there’s usually no good reason for there to be a small puddle under your car. If the fluid is red or brown, and consistently shows up beneath your vehicle, your transmission may have an active leak. Check your car’s manual to review the factory specifications regarding refilling the transmission fluid; this can help you monitor the leak if an active one exists, or show that this wasn’t the case and that you simply needed to conduct a little routine maintenance. Just remember that overfilling can exacerbate the problem, so if you don’t feel up to the task then it’s best to just go ahead and visit the mechanic!

 

Sudden shifts

Have you ever noticed as you drive that, though you’re in one gear, it suddenly feels as if you’ve shifted into another? It might not even seem like much of a change has happened at the time. But if you do experience this, or hear a whining sound from the engine, it could be an indicator of automatic transmission slipping. If it goes unattended, you’ll feel like your car is struggling to get the power it needs to accelerate.

 

Rough transitions

We all know that a car starts to run differently after it’s got a decent number of miles on it. But if you start to notice some resistance when you change gears, or even if it’s just not as smooth as it used to be, your transmission may need some attention. Listen up for any clunking noises or thuds as you shift gears, and if your vehicle is having difficulty getting up to speed like it used to, don’t chalk it up to old age.

 

Delayed departure

If you’re raring to go, but your car is having difficulty getting started, the delay may be its way of telling you that the transmission is experiencing some kind of problem. Before you pull out of the driveway shift out of park and into drive, all the while listening carefully to the sounds that the engine is making. If the transmission is misfiring, you might notice a revving sound as you press the gas pedal, without the forward motion you expect.

 

These aren’t the only signs that your transmission needs some attention, but if you experience any of these and aren’t used to working on your car, play it safe and take the vehicle in and have your trusty mechanic have a look. While we certainly hope it isn’t anything serious, you can always contact Carolina Pick-N-Pull to see if any of our locations have the replacement parts you need to get you back out on the road!