without warning, you will most probably start thinking of the last thing you ate in order to figure out why you’re having the pain. A similar type of thinking goes into diagnosing cars. The moment you start noticing something out of the ordinary, it’s time to start considering the problem and finding a way to fix it.
Mechanical
auto problems, as opposed to electrical auto problems, are usually coupled with
distinct sounds and sensations that are key indicators that something isn’t
functioning the way it was designed to. For transmissions, it takes a lot of
use over the years, and after a while, they’re bound to start having some
problems. Transmission repairs can be expensive, so it’s worthwhile to pay
attention to anything that seems unusual.
If you think
you may be having some car trouble or if you’re just looking to learn more
about potential transmission problems, check out these 10 signs of transmission
trouble and stay one step ahead of your car.
For those
who may not know, there are three types of transmission; the manual, automatic
and triptronic which combines manual and automatic but works more as automatic
since they don’t use physical clutches. But the prominent first two will be the
concentration of this discourse.
1: Lack of
Response
Transmissions
are designed to go into the correct gear every time they are engaged, so when
they hesitate or refuse to go, it’s a sure sign there’s something wrong. With
manual transmission problems, you may notice after shifting into a gear that
the car’s engine will rev up, but the car won’t be moving as quickly as the
engine is running. In this case, a worn-out clutch or more serious transmission
problem may be occurring.
Automatic
transmissions have the same lack-of-response problem, but will usually manifest
the issue while engaging the “Park” or “Drive” selection. The car should shift
quickly into either of these modes, but if your transmission hesitates to go
into either one, then it’s likely there’s an issue with the transmission.
2: Whining,
Clunking and Humming
It’s
difficult to nail down exactly how your car may sound if there’s transmission
trouble, but one thing’s pretty certain, you’ll probably get a
that-doesn’t-sound-right feeling when you hear it. Every car is built
differently, so the sounds they produce can vary greatly, but if you have an
automatic transmission, there’s a good chance you may hear a whining, humming
or even a slight buzzing sound.
With manual
transmissions, the sounds will usually come across as a bit more abrupt and mechanical
sounding. If you shift gears and hear a clunking sound, then you definitely
need to have it checked out by a professional. But a clunking sound from
underneath your vehicle may not always point to a transmission problem. Your
constant velocity joints (CV joints), or even your differential may be the
culprit.
The sounds
you hear may happen from time to time at first, but if you neglect the noises,
they’ll occur more frequently as time goes on.
3: Grinding
or Shaking
Depending on
whether you have a manual or automatic transmission, your car may respond
differently when your transmission isn’t working correctly. As noted in a
previous section, with a manual transmission, a common sign of trouble is a
grinding sound or feeling when you shift into a new gear. If you fully engage
the clutch, shift and then hear a grinding sound, you may have a worn clutch or
you may just need to have it adjusted. Or perhaps one or more of your
transmission’s gear synchronizers, or synchros, is worn out or damaged. Grinding
gears can be caused by a number of different factors.
For
automatic transmissions problems, you’ll most likely feel the car shimmy into
each gear rather than the typical almost unnoticeable shifts, or the
transmission will make a jarring transition into the next gear. Both are signs
that your transmission needs attention. If you notice anything other than a
smooth transition between gears, then you might need to have your automatic
transmission looked at for adjustments or repair.
But feeling
transmission problems aren’t the only way to use your senses. Go on to the next
page to see what sounds you should be listening for as well.
4: Check
Engine Light
The check
engine light can be a great early indicator that something is starting to go
wrong with your transmission. The check engine light can come on for any number
of reasons not related to your gear as well, but don’t overlook this clear
warning sign.
In newer
cars there are sensors throughout the engine that pick up irregularities in the
engine and notify the computer that there’s something wrong in a particular
area. In the case of transmissions, these sensors can pick up vibrations and
early problems that you may not even be able to feel or see. If you want to
know if your check engine light is telling you about a transmission problem,
you can purchase a diagnostic scan tool that you plug into your car underneath
the driver’s side of the instrument panel. The scan tool will display a code
that corresponds to the area of the vehicle causing the fault. If the code
tells you there’s a transmission problem, well, that’s a good time to see your
mechanic.
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