The transmission of your car is responsible for transferring the power generated by the engine to the wheels of the vehicle. As such, the transmission is one of the most critical components of your car and having it break down will render your vehicle inoperable. Unfortunately, issues often arise with transmission after years of wear and tear on the road.
How do you know if your transmission is going bad? Continue reading to learn about some of the major warning signs of a bad transmission in your vehicle in Minnesota.
5 Signs That Your Transmission is Failing
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- Weird Noises – Beginning to hear unusual noises coming from your car is never a good thing. Strange noises such as whining, clunking or humming when the car is in neutral or driving can be caused by damage to the transmission or low transmission fluid levels. Meanwhile, harsh grinding noises while shifting gears is often an indicator of damage to internal components of your transmission. When you start hearing any of these noises, it’s time to schedule a transmission inspection with a professional mechanic in the West Minneapolis metro.
- Gear Shifting Issues – When you experience difficulty while trying to shift gears, it can signify that your car’s transmission fluid levels are low, that the fluid is contaminated, or that the shift cables or clutch linkage are damaged. Any of these issues can make it hard for the transmission to engage and disengage gears smoothly, and demand immediate repairs. If the transmission slips in and out of gear while driving, it means that your vehicle randomly shifts to neutral, causing a sudden lack of power and control. This serious problem, which can be caused by worn-out gears and other transmission issues, can be very dangerous at high speeds.
- Delays in Shifting to Drive – When there is a noticeable delay before your car actually moves after you shift from park to drive or reverse, there’s probably something wrong with your transmission. In some cases, this delay may simply be caused by low transmission fluid. However, the problem may arise from more serious issues such as failure of the transmission’s hydraulic system or other components that have been worn down.
- Leaking Transmission Fluid – If you start finding puddles of reddish or brownish fluid under your car, you probably have a transmission fluid leak. Transmission fluid is essential for keeping the system lubricated and cool, so having a large quantity leak is likely to result in a breakdown. Fluid leaks can stem from a faulty gasket, a cracked pan or damaged seals; bring your vehicle to a local auto repair shop in the West Minneapolis metro to pinpoint the problem.
- Burning Smell – When it smells like something’s burning when you’re driving, the cause could be overheated transmission fluid. This typically occurs when the transmission is running too hot, causing the fluid to break down. Overheated transmission fluid cannot properly cool the transmission, which causes increased friction that may result in damage to internal components over time.
Transmission Repair Mechanics in the West Metro
If your transmission has begun to demonstrate any of the warning signs mentioned above, you should have it inspected for damage as soon as possible. Contact Arvu Auto today if you’d like to schedule transmission repair services in the West Minneapolis metro!
