Check your owner’s manual to confirm this, but your transmission should be serviced every 30,000 miles. This makes certain that it always has clean oil and a clean filter in it if it has a filter. It also gives us the opportunity to check the numerous parts in the transmission to see if anything has worn out. If your transmission is malfunctioning, you may experience one or more of the following problems.
Slipping
A slipping transmission means that the transmission does not stay in gear. Rather, it slips out of gear and goes into Neutral while your vehicle is in motion. This can be disconcerting because you will suddenly lose a tremendous amount of power. In addition, the engine’s RPMs will increase.
Skipping
A skipping transmission is a transmission that skips a gear or two in the gear cycle. In other words, it shifts from 1st to 3rd instead of from 1st to 2nd gear. The transmission can also hesitate to shift gears when it is struggling and needs to be serviced or repaired.
Failure
A total transmission failure means that the transmission is no longer responding at all. It will not go into gear. It will also refuse to shift through the gear cycle. This can leave you stuck in a specific gear or stranded because you cannot get your vehicle into 1st gear or Drive.
Leaking
An older transmission that has not been serviced can also begin to leak. Unfortunately, this will leave you with transmission oil on the garage floor. This can also damage the transmission beyond repair because there is not enough oil circulating through it to protect it.
Overheating
In fact, one sign that your transmission is leaking is an overheating transmission. The transmission will get too hot and release burning odors that will waft into the passenger cabin. If you step out of the vehicle, you will smell the heat coming from underneath the automobile.
Grinding
A grinding transmission is a transmission that does not have enough oil in it. It can also be a transmission that has parts that are wearing out. In addition to grinding, other malfunctioning transmission sounds include humming, squealing, and clunking.
Shaking
Finally, your vehicle may jerk or shake if the transmission is unable to shift the gears smoothly. This is a sign that the transmission fluid is too low or too old. It can also be a sign that the transmission parts are wearing out.
Do not wait. Continuing to drive your automobile will cause additional damage to the transmission. Call us today to schedule a service appointment so we can repair your transmission.
