You don’t have to be a mechanic, car enthusiast, or know very much about cars to keep an eye on your transmission. Understanding the signs of transmission failure can make a huge impact on your Phoenix, AZ vehicle. Catching transmission problems early on can be the difference between minor repairs and a completely rebuilt transmission. We are going to review some signs of transmission failure so you can be sure to continuously look out for these common symptoms.
What is a transmission?
Before we review the signs of transmission failure, we are going to give a brief understanding of what a transmission is and its importance to your vehicle.
A car’s transmission is one of the most critical components of a vehicle. It’s what moves the power from the engine to the wheels, which in turn, rotates the wheels. To keep it simple, your transmission is what makes your wheels move and enables the gear ratio between the drive wheels and engine to adjust as the car slows down and speeds up.
There are different types of car transmissions: automatic and manual. The exact way your transmission works is based on the on the type of transmission. We aren’t trying to make you an expert on transmissions today, we just wanted to give a general idea, so you can understand why it’s key to know the signs of transmission failure, before your transmission completely goes out on you and you are left sitting idle.
What are signs of transmission failure?
Understanding when you have a failing transmission or other ailments with your car could be difficult. If you notice any of the symptoms listed below, you should talk to a professional Phoenix mechanic as soon as possible.
- Failure to Switch Gears: Vehicles should effortlessly shift from one gear to the next, almost without the driver noticing. If your car doesn’t switch gears as you speed up, that is likely a sign of a failing transmission.
- Leaking Fluid: One of the most obvious signs of an issue with your transmission is leaking red fluid from your vehicle. Get into the habit of taking a second to look under your car before you drive it. Low transmission fluid can cause major wear on your transmission and lead to failure and other issues.
- Slipping Gears: Slipping gears refers to when your vehicle suddenly shifts when it shouldn’t. For instance, if you drive at a steady 25 miles per hour, the car should not change into the next gear, gears should lock in immediately. If you notice a delay when “hitting the gas”, it could be a sign of trouble with your transmission.
- Rough Shifting: A vehicle should shift gears quietly and unnoticeably. Any car or truck that produces a loud thud or any other noise, or jerks and shakes as it shifts, has a transmission that is struggling.
- Transmission Engine Light: If your transmission engine light is on, it is not on just to make your dashboard look pretty, there is likely an issue with your transmission and you should seek a professional. While the transmission engine light being on may sound obvious, a lot of drivers will ignore their dashboard indicator lights and that could lead to larger problems.
If you have signs of transmission failure, Advanced Transmissions & Emissions is here to help.
Advanced Transmissions & Emissions aims to make transmission repair services more accessible and cheaper for our customers. Transmissions are expensive and vital components in any vehicle. A failing transmission is never a good thing; however, we have years of experience repairing transmissions at cheaper rates than you will find elsewhere.
Our expertise allows us to locate the source of the problem to make only the needed repairs. Visit our Phoenix, AZ shop for transmission repair.
