Imagine your life without your car. Hard to do, isn’t it?

You jump behind the wheel in the morning, and it’s go-go all day. You start it and stop it. You brake for lights and stop signs. You throw it into gear as you drive away. You put it into reverse as you back out of parking spaces. 

But what if you notice a problem? What if you try to put it into gear and it slips? Or refuses to switch gears? 

That’s a sign of transmission problems. 

What Is A Transmission?

In simple terms, a transmission is a mechanical component that transmits power from the engine to the wheels. Its primary function is to ensure that the engine operates within an optimal range of speeds while providing a range of output speeds to the wheels. This allows the vehicle to accelerate smoothly from a standstill to high speeds and to operate efficiently under various driving conditions.

Today, we almost always operate with automatic transmissions. This is where the vehicle automatically changes gears based on speed and engine load without the driver needing to intervene.

If you drive a sports car or an older vehicle, you might have driven with a manual transmission. This is where the driver manually shifts gears using a clutch and gear stick. Continuously variable transmissions and dual-clutch transmissions exist too, though they aren’t as common. 

Signs Of Transmission Problems  

Transmissions work … until they don’t. Luckily, transmission failure doesn’t usually happen without warning. 

Listen to your car. Pay attention. It rarely goes from working to nothing without warning. 

Noises

This is one of the most popular ways people start to notice problems. They turn the key, they put it in drive, and hear something unusual. When you know how your car usually sounds, it’s easy to pick up when things don’t sound quite right. 

Don’t ignore these sounds. Clunking, humming, or whining are all indicators of automatic transmission problems. If you notice it when your car is shifting gears, it is a clear indicator of problems. It’s time for a mechanic to look it over. 

Smells

What’s that smell? If it seems to be coming from your engine compartment, it’s a sure sign of a problem. As transmission fluid runs low or wears down, it overheats and starts to burn. It can create a burning smell that’s hard to ignore. The longer it operates under these conditions, the more damage will occur with your engine. A hot engine contributes to early wear and corrosion. 

Of course, smells can come from many places. Maybe a trapped plastic bag made its way up and melted inside the engine compartment. Maybe dripping antifreeze is causing a problem. Whatever the case, treat the smell as a problem, and get it checked out quickly. 

Check Engine Light

There can be dozens of little lights on your dashboard, all blinking for your attention. Each of them means something different. But the check engine light is often the one that confuses people the most. It can tell you the gas cap is loose, you have a faulty oxygen sensor, or you have transmission problems. Big difference, right?

If the transmission is triggering a dashboard icon, it’s sensing jerks and tremors you might not notice until later. It’s picking up these subtle changes, alerting you to potential problems. If you get it checked quickly, it might remain a minor problem, and be an easier, less expensive fix. 

Shifting Problems

When your car is working correctly, it slides into gear every time you adjust the gears. Problems arise when you notice that the slide isn’t working quite the way it used to. It hesitates. It gives you no response. Ignore this, and there may come a time when the transmission leaves you stranded, without being able to get it into gear. 

Fluid Leaks

Your vehicle has several essential fluids to keep it operating and lubricated. If fluids break down or start to leak, the system weakens and eventually becomes inoperable. 

A transmission fluid leak is easy to spot. It has a unique red color and sweet smell. If it’s degrading, it will take on a darker red color and start to have a toasted smell. 

This is something you can easily watch for yourself. Take a look at your driveway as you drive away. If you see the red color, your transmission fluid is leaking. It’s time to bring it in right away. 

Won’t Go Into Gear

You go to move from park to reverse or drive, and it refuses to go into gear. It’s often a fluid issue. If the fluid is clean, it might be a problem with the shift cables or clutch. The computer system could also be the issue. 

If it is the computer system, you can give your car a reboot. Disconnect the battery for a few minutes, and the computer reboots once it’s reengaged. If you still have a problem, it’s one of the others. You’ll need to get your car into see one of our mechanics to fix the problem. 

Slipping Gears

With a manual transmission, you, the driver, change gears. With an automatic, you can choose reverse, neutral, or drive, then the transmission handles the rest. 

If your car is slipping between gears without any change from you, it’s dangerous for you and the engine. This could be caused by low fluids or worn down transmission components that are allowing the gear to slip. Get your vehicle into our repair shop to avoid dangerous situations. 

Pay Attention and Don’t Miss These Transmission Problems

If you’ve noticed any of these transmission problems, it’s time to get it checked out. Whether you hear it, smell it, or notice it as you drive, don’t put it off. Minor problems can be easier and less expensive to fix. Bigger problems risk leaving you stranded by the side of the road. 

Have questions? We’re here to help. Come in today and we’ll help you get to the root of the problem. 

When you get into your car, you expect it to go. You’ve got a busy day ahead, with lots to think about on your drive into work. 

But what if your car doesn’t go? 

Picture this: You cruise onto the highway, and your engine starts racing. You can hear the transmission isn’t shifting gears. It whines and grinds, but no movement. You know something is wrong. You pull over to the side of the road … it’s going to be a long day. 

Transmission problems can be the most stressful, expensive repair issues to deal with. 

But the good news is you don’t have to wait for transmission problems to escalate before you take action. Warning signs start to appear long before problems occur. Let’s cover a few of them so you can start taking action now. 

Ignoring Maintenance

One of the most common reasons transmissions fail for all vehicles is not following manufacturers’ maintenance recommendations when caring for the engine and transmission. They push the mileage when scheduling fluid and filter changes. They push off maintenance until they “have more time.” 

Here in Colorado, that can be dangerous, especially if you enjoy our outdoor lifestyle. You frequently head up into the hills for skiing, hiking, and biking. You tow campers and boats for a weekend of play. These harsh conditions are taking a toll on your vehicle’s inner-workings. Without proper fluid levels, it no longer lubricates properly. Without clean filters, your vehicle won’t cool properly, leading to overheating, failure, and a host of other mechanical issues.  

Fluid Leaks

The second most common way your transmission will warn you of pending issues is through a transmission leak. Transmission fluid leaks can occur at various points in the transmission system, including seals, gaskets, or cooler lines. Leaks lead to low fluid, burnt fluid, overheating, and eventual damage that will no longer be repairable by just adding fluid. 

A transmission fluid leak is usually red, ranging from light pink to a brownish color, depending on its age. If you notice this color leaking from your car and pooling underneath the front of your car, it’s likely a transmission leak. Identifying the source of the leak and repairing it promptly is crucial to maintaining proper transmission function and preventing fluid loss, which can lead to overheating and damage. If it isn’t caught early, it can lead to needing a replacement or rebuilt transmission. 

Strange Noises

Vehicle noises differ depending on where the problem lies. But if you hear anything out of the ordinary, pay attention. Can you describe it as humming, buzzing, whining, or clunking? Those are the most common ways people describe transmission problems. With hundreds of parts inside the transmission system, even one loose bearing can throw the entire system off. Each sound signals a different potential issue:

• Grinding noises typically occur when there’s a problem with the gears, such as worn synchros or teeth. These sounds often indicate that the transmission is having difficulty synchronizing the gears, which can lead to further damage if not addressed.
• Whining or humming noises might indicate low transmission fluid or a worn-out bearing. Both scenarios can lead to serious transmission issues if left unattended.
• Clunking sounds when shifting gears could be a sign of worn-out or damaged transmission mounts, which can cause the transmission to shift unexpectedly and result in further damage to surrounding components.

Only  a thorough inspection of the system can isolate where the noise is coming from and point to where the problem originates. Trust your mechanic to get to the root of the problem. 

Warning Lights

Thank goodness for modern cars. Their technological advancements have done wonders helping you solve issues before they escalate and turn into bigger problems. Depending on your make and model, you may have 20 to 30 dashboard lights ready and waiting to alert you to potential problems. Don’t ignore them – they light up for a reason. 

Dashboard warning lights such as the Check Engine Light or Transmission Temperature Light are designed to alert you to potential issues with the transmission system. The Check Engine Light is one of the most common lights to illuminate; it can signal many different issues in your car. Bringing your car in early for an inspection means we’ll catch the problem before it escalates, potentially saving you money on more severe problems. 

Slipping Gears

Do you hear the engine revving higher than it should when driving down the road? Does it lack power or sound like it’s slipping gears? People often describe this in many ways, yet you’ll know when it feels like your car is clunking as you speed up and slow down. 

Transmission slipping occurs when the transmission fails to maintain a consistent gear, resulting in the engine revving higher than usual without a corresponding increase in vehicle speed. This can be caused by many things, including worn-out clutch bands, clutch packs, or torque converters. You can prevent slipping transmission by maintaining your fluid levels and ensuring you don’t have any leaks. When you find a problem, get it fixed immediately. 

Burning Smell

A burning smell is never a good sign. In most cases, a burning smell comes from overheated transmission fluid, or leaking fluid. Low fluid levels cause excessive friction which exacerbates the situation. Ignoring this smell could lead to severe transmission damage or failure.

Solenoid Issues

Solenoids in cars perform many different functions, from helping start the engine to assisting in shifting gears. They control upshifting and downshifting while you drive. If solenoids are damaged or wear down, it can damage your transmission, cause shifting problems, leading to diagnostic codes showing up in your vehicle’s computer. 

A car’s computer sends 100s, if not 1000s, of signals to the solenoids a second, telling your vehicle how much pressure it needs, when to shift, how fast to shift. This level of action eventually wears parts down, causing you to notice it in the way your car shifts and moves. It may be as simple as replacing the solenoid if it has become defective. 

Do you Have Transmission Problems? 

From the moment you notice a first sign of a problem, your best course of action is to schedule an inspection. It’s the easiest way to stop issues early before they rise in significance and escalate to a more costly problem. 

Have a transmission issue? Let’s chat. Give us a call, and we can schedule a time to inspect your car, find the issue, and make the repair. It’s the best way to get you on the road again. It’s the best way to bring peace of mind to your drive.