When you are going about your daily life and you are driving around town, you are not likely thinking about the possibility of something being wrong with your car. However, it is always important to keep track of your car's "health" at all times. One of the most important aspects of your car's well-being is the transmission. Your transmission ensures that the right amount of power goes to your wheels when you are driving and is the part of your vehicle that shifts gears in the engine. Get to know some of the ways to tell that your transmission may be in need of work or even replacement. Then, you can be sure you are able to get your car into the shop right away if you notice a sign of trouble.
Your Gears Grind
One of the biggest signs that your transmission is in trouble is that your gears seem to grind. When you are shifting gears manually or your car is shifting them automatically, it should occur smoothly and fairly quietly. You may hear some revving in the engine and then hear it go down, but that's it.
Any crunching or grinding sounds are unusual and cause for concern. It is a sign that something is not right in the transmission. It could be as simple as needing more transmission fluid, but it might also be a bigger issue.
Your Transmission Slips
A slipping transmission is another big sign of trouble with your transmission. So, what does it mean for the transmission to slip? It means that it goes out of proper gear for no apparent reason. For example, if you are driving 35 miles per hour, your vehicle should be in what is known as third gear. If it suddenly falls into first or second gear, your car's engine will start revving higher than it should and will be pretty loud. This is an example of a transmission slipping and should be dealt with by a mechanic as soon as possible.
Your Transmission Light Comes On
Of course, if your transmission light comes on on your dashboard, you should heed the warning. Take your care into a service shop as soon as possible. They will use a computer to read the light code, find out what is being indicated as the issue and repair your car accordingly.
Now that you know more about how to tell your transmission needs work or replacement, you can be sure to head to the auto service shop as soon as possible if you notice any of these signs.