Your transmission (literally) keeps your car in motion. Without a functional transmission, your car won’t get you too far. Essentially, the transmission in your vehicle works by transmitting the power from the engine down to the wheels and along the drive shaft and axles. Your transmission system consists of gears and gear ratios that are selected automatically (for automatic vehicles) or manually by the driver (for manual vehicles). If you’re experiencing an issue with your transmission, heading to a nearby transmission shop is your best bet to get your vehicle back on the road fast.
Here, we’re taking a closer look at this important part of every vehicle and learning more about some of the most common transmission problems. By better understanding how this part of your vehicle works, you can better diagnose your car if something goes wrong and keep yourself safer on the road.
5 of the Most Common Transmission Problems
As one of the most important components of your vehicle, there are quite a few problems that can arise that can lead to significant problems. If left untreated, these transmission problems can get even worse and cause extensive damage to the vehicle. By learning more about common transmission problems, you can better assess the health of your vehicle and know when to get your car into the shop.
Some of the most common transmission problems include:
1. Shaking transmission: if you notice your transmission shaking or shuddering at high speeds, this could be an early indication that something is wrong. For manual vehicles, this may sound more like a grinding noise as you switch gears. Some vehicle brands, such as General Motors, are notorious for shaking transmissions.
2. Transmission slipping: if you can feel your car wobbling between gears, this could be a sign of transmission slipping. In many cases, this problem can be resolved by ensuring you have enough transmission fluid. Sometimes it can also be a sign that the gears are out of place or misaligned.
3. Transmission fluid leaks: the transmission fluid is necessary to lubricate the moving parts of the transmission system and to provide hydraulic pressure. However, fluid leaks are a common issue that can point to major issues with your vehicle. Luckily, transmission fluids tend to be easy to catch as the fluid is brightly colored and gives off a sweet aroma.
4. Vehicle stalling: if your car starts stalling and then suddenly restarts, this could be an issue with your transmission lines. This could be an issue with the torque converter not engaging properly, which can cause the transmission to slip, effectively stalling your vehicle.
5. Delayed shifting between gears: in a healthy transmission system, your car should glide between different gears effortlessly. However, if you notice a delay in between gears, it’s probably your transmission. This common problem may be caused by low transmission fluid, dirty fluid, clogged filters, or a defective transmission cooler.
Conclusion – 5 of the Most Common Transmission Problems
As you can see, there are quite a few issues that can affect this complex, but very important, component of your vehicle. Essentially, whenever you feel shaking, delay, or notice any unusual noises when switching between gears, these are all signs to get your vehicle to a transmission repair center that can identify the issue and provide a repair to get you back on the road sooner than ever.
