3 Signs That Your Transmission Needs Attention
The transmission of your car plays a very serious role. If the transmission is not working properly it will cause the car to malfunction in dangerous ways, and can be an expensive fix. This is why it is best to get the issue taken care of before it becomes serious. Luckily, there are some warning signs that something with the transmission is not right, and if you pay attention you might be able to protect yourself from dangerous situations and an expensive fix. Here are some things you should be looking for.
1. The Car Is Delayed When It Shifts
The transmission is responsible for the shifting of the car. It is responsible for changing the gears in the car. This means that the majority of problems you notice with the transmission will take place when it is shifting. For this reason, you should always pay close attention to what the car does when you shift from one gear to the next. If the transmission is compromised you will notice that it is delayed when you shift. You might move from reverse to drive and rather than be an immediate thing it may take a few seconds, additionally, you may even have to shift twice to get it to fully respond. If it is slow to shift, or even if it doesn't shift at all, you have a problem that needs to be addressed.
2. The Car Grinds When It Shifts
Another issue to be aware of is that the car could grind when you try to shift from one gear to the next. It may be fully responsive, but you hear a slight grinding noise, or the floor might even grind and shake a little. This is another sign that the transmission is giving out. It also could mean that there is not enough fluid and the longer you ignore it, but the bigger the problem could become.
3. There If Fluid Leaking
Lastly, you should be paying attention to leaky fluids. Transmission fluid is a pink or red fluid. If it is leaking it means that the transmission is not working properly, however, in some cases you can continue to drive the car, but you will need to be replacing the fluid often. You should always have some transmission fluid with you and top it off every time you drive the car. This will be the only way to drive safely.
By understanding these things you can know when your transmission needs help.