Your car’s transmission tries to let you know when something is wrong, even before it triggers the dreaded check engine light. But do you know when it’s trying to communicate with you? Sammy’s Auto has these transmission tips for you.
You’re Feeling Gears Slipping
You might not realize exactly what you’re feeling when your transmission slips gears, but you’ll know that there’s something not quite right. A slipping transmission is one that is attempting to change gears as you accelerate or decelerate, but it isn’t able to do so. So what the transmission does is it drops into neutral or it falls back to the gear it was just in. You’ll feel that as a hesitation and you might hear the engine rev.
Or the Transmission Isn’t Shifting at All
A more complicated problem is when the transmission doesn’t just slip, but it refuses to shift at all. You might hear the gears grinding as the transmission tries to shift, but you’re not going to go much of anywhere. This might be a temporary, intermittent issue that makes you just think something odd happened, but it’s actually a warning that your transmission isn’t okay.
There’s a Lot of Noise
When your transmission is working properly, you’re probably not going to hear a lot from it. It will shift smoothly and there won’t be any grinding, squealing, or whining. If you are hearing those types of noises from the rear of the car, there’s definitely something going on with your transmission. That’s a sign that continuing to drive your car may not be the best idea.
You’re Finding Transmission Fluid Under the Car
Another big sign that all is not well in your car’s transmission is a puddle, or even just a few drops, of transmission fluid underneath the car. Transmissions are sealed, so if you’re finding transmission fluid that’s a sign that there is a problem. You may have a failing gasket or there may even be a hole somewhere. If the leak is bad enough, you might be losing a lot of transmission fluid, and to reduce damage you should not drive.
If you suspect that there’s a problem with your car’s transmission, give us a call at Sammy’s Auto in Seffner, FL. We’ll inspect your transmission thoroughly and diagnose the problem properly for you. From there, you’ll know what your car’s transmission needs in order to get you back on the road.