Your car’s transmission stands out as a complex piece of machinery that converts the power of your engine into the movement of your wheels. It can prove costly to repair if you allow its problems to go on unattended. Here are a few warning signs that your car has transmission issues.
The check engine light is on.
When this light that looks like a small engine turns on in your dashboard, you may have a problem with your engine, transmission, or something else. It may illuminate for something as trivial as a loose fuel cap, which only requires tightening to turn the light off. But you may have a more serious problem, especially if the light is blinking.
Take your vehicle in right away so that our mechanics can read the code produced by this light and pinpoint the actual cause.
Transmission response is slow or nonexistent.
When you move the gearshift, your transmission should respond immediately and switch gears as needed. If your transmission is slow to respond or not responding at all, then you may have a problem.
The gears are grinding.
If you have a manual transmission, grinding gears may mean that the clutch disk is not disengaging from the flywheel when you step on the clutch. You need to replace the clutch.
If you’re driving an automatic, the gears sound rough, or gears start switching on your own, the problems can include transmission synchronizers that need to be calibrated.
Your vehicle shakes or vibrates.
If your transmission is working perfectly, it will shift smoothly, especially if it’s automatic. If your car starts to shake or vibrate every time you change gears, then this problem is probably going to get worse. If you wait too long to get a check, your gears may disintegrate.
If you have a manual transmission, unusual vibrations may just require that the clutch be adjusted or replaced.
Fluid under the car.
If you pull your vehicle from out of a parking spot, such as in your garage, and you notice puddles underneath, one of your vehicle’s essential fluids may be leaking. If you have been running your air-conditioner, that fluid is most likely condensed liquid and is not a problem.
However, if the fluid is a dark reddish-brown, then transmission fluid is leaking from somewhere in your system. Temporarily refill the transmission reservoir as indicated in your owner’s manual. But you will eventually have to bring your vehicle in to get the leak repaired unless you like refilling the reservoir every so often.
You smell something burning.
If a burning smell is coming from your car, you want to pull over and figure out what’s causing it. The aroma may mean that you are out of a fluid or it could also mean some of the fluid is leaking onto a hot engine part and burning up. It could also mean that your transmission fluid is overheating.
You hear strange sounds.
If you’ve owned your vehicle for a while, you’re probably familiar with all the sounds that it makes when it’s running normally, such as the purr of a well-tuned engine. If you’re hearing clanking, buzzing, knocking, or some other unusual sound, you want to have your vehicle checked right away. This could prove especially troublesome if you’re in Neutral when the engine is supposed to be quiet.
The noise may be a sign of a transmission problem or a component in your engine that is no longer functioning properly. If you wait too long, that component may break and cost plenty of money to repair.
Getting your transmission serviced.
If you’re experiencing any of the warning signs previously listed, take your vehicle into the Service Department of Preston hood Chevrolet at Fort Walton Beach, FL. Our highly trained technicians are factory-certified to work on your brand. We use only manufacturer-approved parts to keep your car running like new. With every service visit, we also offer a Multi-Point Inspection that allows us to detect issues before they become major problems.
You can wait for your repair to finish at our customer lounge, which offers TV, an Internet cafe, and refreshments. Or you can head back home or to work using our complimentary shuttle.
