Signs that Your Car is in Need of Transmission Repair

As the owner of an automobile, you should pay close attention to signs that any part of your engine may be having trouble, but especially when it comes to the transmission. Transmission repair is expensive and, depending on the age of your vehicle, it may not even be worth it. But, if you can catch potential problems early on, you could possibly save a lot of money as well as the life of your car!

Some of the most common problems that indicate a transmission is having problems is rough shifting between gears, leaking transmission fluid, unusual engine sounds while driving, or missing shifts altogether.

Rough Shifting - If your vehicle is having a hard time getting from one gear to the next, you're probably in need of some serious transmission repair. In automatic transmission vehicles, this is definitely a sign that something is wrong with the transmission. You're car's computer may actually be telling the transmission not to change gears because it detects that the transmission is faulty and needs to be taken to the mechanic immediately.

Leaking Fluid - Small drops of fluid beneath your car aren't usually a problem since they're due to condensation on the engine, rather than leaking fluid. However, if you notice a sizeable puddle of pinkish colored oil, you'll want to check the transmission fluid right away. If it's low, get to the mechanic. Transmission fluid lubricates your transmission in much the same way that oil lubricates your engine. Without that liquid, you're transmission is bound to overheat and simply stop working. Give your transmission repair specialist time to find and fix the leak before anything drastic happens!

Noise - Unusual heavy-knocking sounds can indicate transmission problems as can grinding while trying to shift gears. You should also take note when your car seems to buck or shake as you reach higher speeds. All these are indications of transmission problems. Also, if you're engine revs when you push the gas pedal, but your car doesn't move right away, you may be experiencing transmission "slippage" which can also indicate a serious problem.

Warning Lights - The computers in today's cars are wonderful, especially since they can detect problems before the problems become major setbacks. If your car's computer has triggered the check engine light to come on constantly, you need to have your engine checked by your regular mechanic. If you suspect a transmission problem, be sure to tell him why. He may be able to fix it himself, or he may refer to you a transmission repair specialist.

Burning - Finally, if you notice a burning smell while you're driving or right after you've stopped, it could be the transmission overheating. You can also check if the transmission fluid smells burnt. If you do find that the transmission is overheating, you'll need to let your mechanic know right away. Not only is your transmission in danger of seizing (requiring you to replace the entire transmission), but you could be in danger of an engine fire if any of the fluid came in contact with extremely hot meta