Take the time to become a little more car-savvy and learn about your car transmission – and save yourself time and money on the way!
Your car transmission is a machine in your car that helps to control the power of your car. It refers to the whole system in your car that contains the clutch, gearbox, and driveshafts.
The essential role of transmissions is to protect your engine from falling apart and to support your car at different speeds. Your car transmission protects your engine when your car goes into a lower gear for lower speeds and a higher gear for faster speeds.
In a nutshell, it’s a very important part of your car and maintenance is vital. The problem is, it’s difficult to tell when something is wrong. If left undetected, a faulty transmission can have far-reaching repercussions and leave you with a costly mechanic bill.
As a car owner, you can never know too much about your car. That’s why we are going to outline the 6 signs that indicate something may be wrong with your car transmission so you can nip it in the bud ASAP.
Six signs that indicate something’s wrong with your car transmission
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A burning smell
A burned or burning smell is NEVER a good thing. The moment you smell a burning smell, you need to stop driving your car and book it into the mechanics. This could be a sign that your transmission has failed, and your engine is starting to leak or burn.
Read: How often should you get your car serviced?
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Broken universal joint
The transmission has a few parts surrounding it that hold it in place—one of them being the universal joint. If your universal joint is broken, you will hear a creaking or squeaking sound when your car is sitting idle. Without this joint, your car transmission is in big trouble, so you need to get somebody to look at it before everything falls apart.
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Leaking transmission fluid
If you go to check your car and notice that fluid has leaked onto the floor, this could be indicative of a transmission issue. Don’t just assume that it might be a non-emergency oil leak and go on with your day (in fact, any fluid coming out of your car should be addressed with urgency).
You could also detect a leak by checking your transmission fluid levels. If the levels are low even though you’ve recently refilled, a leak may be the reason.
Related: 3 reasons why you should never drive on an empty fuel tank
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Solenoid problems
Problems with your solenoid could also mean your car transmission is playing up.
If you don’t know, the solenoid in your car is a wire that wraps around a non-magnetic core. It connects the electrical current that goes between the ignition switch and the battery.
When it breaks, it cannot make this connection, and you’ll feel a drop in power.
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Torque converter issues
Most car issues can be figured out if you just take the time to listen.
Torque converter issues can cause transmission fluid degradation. An issue with your torque converter is often a sign of transmission failure or error. Inside the torque converter, there are needle bearings. When there’s something wrong, these needle bearings can make grinding noises when your car is not in neutral. This often means that they have worn out and need to be replaced.
A good way to test this is to listen for grinding noises when your car is in neutral. If this is the case, you need to get your torque converter checked out.
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Jammed clutch
A jammed clutch feels like your car is losing power when you go up a gear, and it may start to make noises when you shift down a gear. There may also be a shuddering motion. A jammed clutch is a very common sign that your transmission is bugging out. A jammed clutch involves a stuck torque converter (like we spoke about earlier) which means less fluid is reaching the engine.
Now that you know all the signs of a damaged transmission unit, you can keep an eye and ear out for when something isn’t quite right.
Remember to always listen to your mechanic and book an appointment when you have a feeling your car is acting up—it will save you time and money in the long run.
Read this next: 6 Handy Car Maintenance Tips & Tricks Everyone Should Know
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