How to Check for Transmission Repair Issues When Purchasing a Used Vehicle

A car with an automatic transmission is a lot more reliable nowadays, but it is still very easy to break and very expensive to fix. In addition, the trans can be sensitive to the type of fluids that is used in it. If you use a type that is not recommended for your vehicle, it can cause some sever damage to your car. When purchasing a used vehicle, having a transmission repair specialist look at it is highly recommended before you purchase it.

When buying a used vehicle, it is important to check the history of the car first. If the car history report indicates that the car was either utilized as a rental car or was involved in an accident, then you definitely want to stay away from this car. You also need to find out if there has been any work done to the car. If any component has been rebuilt, you should not take a chance on the car because there is no way to verify if the auto facility did a good job or not.

You want to look at all of the vehicle's fluid levels. To do this, the engine needs to be idling. Take out the dipstick then wipe it clean with a rag. Put the dipstick back in completely and take the dipstick out again. If you notice that your fluid level was low, this may indicate to you that there is any type of transmission leak. Also, it would help if you are able to put a few drops of the fluid onto a piece of white paper. This is because the new trans fluid normally is red in color. Over time and from regular use, the fluid will turn to a more brownish color. If you see any fluid that is black in color, steer clear of that vehicle. Smell the fluid and check for a burnt odor. If you notice that transmission fluids are the color black or smell burnt, you need to avoid purchasing that car.

It is important to understand that newer vehicles may not have a transmission dipstick for you to check the levels and may need a special procedure that can only be done at a transmission repair shop. In this case, you can only check the fluids if you take it for a test drive.

Checking fluid levels on a manual driving car is different from checking levels on an automatic one. For a manual car, you need to make sure there are no oil leaks. Get inside the car and put the car stick into neutral. Put the car's parking brake on and as the engine is idling, press down on your clutch pedal and check to be sure there are no noises. Take your foot off the pedal and listen again for any odd noises. You should hear no noises in any gear positions.

Before you make your final choice on a vehicle, it is important to have the vehicle checked by your mechanic and a transmission repair facility.