Is Your Car Signaling the Need for Transmission Repairs?
If you own a vehicle, chances are you will experience some form of transmission trouble down the road. At best, the problems with your transmission can be a mere inconvenience and would not require much mechanical handling. However, at worst, they can cause the complete breakdown of your vehicle at the most inopportune moment. This is why any signs of impending repairs should not be ignored. Leaving these transmission problems undeterred will eventually lead them to become aggravated and this could leave you with a larger problem on your hands. Here are some of the signs you should not ignore that would signal the need for transmission repairs.
Your vehicle keeps making noises while in neutral
When your car is in neutral, it is supposed to be silent. If it is suffering from transmission problems, you will begin hearing bumping sounds whenever you engage the neutral gear. In most cases, this is typically caused by filthy transmission fluid. It could also be caused if your transmission fluid is running low. If caught early, all you would need to do is replace or top up your transmission fluid. If you ignore this though, you could end up compromising the internal components of your engine by driving with convoluted transmission fluid.
Your vehicle keeps hesitating when you shift gears
Generally, when drivers experience hesitation when shifting gear, they will place the blame on the clutch. However, if you have your clutch checked out and there is nothing wrong with it, it is not advisable to ignore the problem and hope it will go away on its own. In some cases, you vehicle loses its ability to seamlessly switch gears since it is experiencing problems with the transmission. Ensure you have your mechanic give your transmission a once over too to establish if this is the cause of the problem. If left unchecked, it could eventually lead to your car not getting into gear at all and this will put your vehicle out of commission.
Your vehicle is emitting a burning odour
Burning smells emanating from your vehicle are never a good sign and should never be ignored. If there is something burning then your car is at risk of an internal fire. One of the most common culprits for burning smells from your vehicle is combusting transmission fluid. Transmission fluid is supposed to always burn clean. When you start smelling smoke and other odours, it indicates that there is sludge and debris in your transmission fluid. These contaminants start burning and cause your transmission fluid to overheat. Which in in turn means the transmission fluid cannot adequately lubricate the movable parts in your engine.