4 Signs Your Vehicle's Transmission Likely Needs To Be Repaired

Vehicle transmissions are complex mechanisms, regardless of whether they are automatic or manual. They are also one of the most important parts of any vehicle and are expensive to replace if much-needed repairs are continually avoided. If you are concerned about the possibility of your transmission needing repair, take a look below at just four of the most common signs indicating you should take your vehicle to a local trusted repair shop as soon as possible.

Slipping

Transmission slipping refers to the tendency of an engine to rev considerably, yet not produce the corresponding acceleration a reasonable driver would expect. If you have noticed this same lack of acceleration — or noticed that it takes longer than it used to for your vehicle to shift gears — then there is a decent chance your transmission needs to be looked at by a professional mechanic.

Leaks

One vehicle's leak may look slightly different than another's, but all of them will feature a reddish-brown liquid (transmission fluid) under the car. Transmission fluid is crucial to a vehicle's operation because it cools and lubricates the transmission itself. In fact, without it, your transmission gears will be ground down due to the increased friction and eventually stop functioning altogether. You can avoid this by keeping an eye out for leaks and taking your vehicle to a repair shop for a routine transmission check.

Strange Smells

If you find yourself forgetting to regularly check for leaks, then you should at least be aware of strange odors, especially those that smell like something is being burnt. This is a fairly reliable sign something is wrong with your transmission. It may be the case that you simply need to change your transmission fluid, but the root cause may also be something more serious like a malfunctioning transmission cooler. Both can cause sudden breakdowns, which is why it is key for the problem to be diagnosed and repaired as soon as possible.

Delayed Engagement

Another common sign that your transmission needs to be repaired is delayed engagement. In a normally functioning vehicle, the shift between gears should happen almost instantly. If, on the other hand, this same process is delayed (or does not take place at all), then it is well past time to have your transmission fixed. Ignoring this problem can result in a failure to shift from drive to reverse, for example, and have consequences that range from annoying to catastrophic.

Reach out to a transmission repair shop near you to learn more.