Bring your vehicle to Miller Brothers Auto Repair at the first sign of transmission trouble to avoid damaging the transmission further. If you continue to drive your car, truck, or utility vehicle when the transmission is malfunctioning, you run the risk of causing additional and unnecessary damage. Below, are the signs and symptoms of a malfunctioning automatic transmission.
Doesn’t Stay in Gear
A transmission that does not stay in gear needs to be serviced at a minimum if not repaired. The transmission will slip out of gear when it is failing. When the transmission does slip out of gear, your vehicle immediately loses power and the RPMs spike.
Refuses to Shift Gears
Slipping out of gear can be a precursor to refusing to shift gears. Another thing that can happen before your transmission refuses to shift through the gear cycle is it may hesitate too long before shifting gears. You need your transmission to shift through the gear cycle.
Refuses to Go Into Gear
If you are having either of the problems listed above and you ignore them, there may come a point when the transmission will become unresponsive. In other words, you may put the transmission into Drive or Reverse but it will not go into gear.
Makes Strange Noises
Your transmission may give you some warning that it is on the verge of failing by making strange noises. You should never hear humming, whining, squealing, clunking, or grinding coming from the transmission. If you do, the transmission is in trouble.
Shakes Your Vehicle
The transmission also shouldn’t shake or vibrate your vehicle while it is in operation. In other words, the only thing that should happen when the transmission shifts the gears is your engine’s RPMs should change. Your vehicle should never jolt.
Overheats Constantly
Low transmission fluid can cause the transmission to run too hot. When this happens, you will smell burning odors wafting from underneath your vehicle. The transmission needs the right amount of fluid in order to remain protected and cool.
Leaks Transmission Fluid
One problem of a failing transmission that will cause the fluid level to be reduced is a leak. The transmission fluid can leak out of the torque converter or the system seals or gaskets. It can also leak out of the transmission pan.
Finally, Miller Brothers Auto Repair in Somerset, WI, advises that you may end up with an illuminated check engine light on the dashboard if the transmission is failing. Bring your vehicle to our shop right away if it is having any of these problems.