Detecting a Transmission Problem

Some people buy cars without even knowing its ins and outs. Often, we rely on scheduled maintenance tasks and hope that nothing’s wrong. But what if there’s no scheduled trip to the mechanic? Would you be able to detect a problem with your transmission?
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It’s safe to say that almost all of us own a car that’s on an automatic transmission. The most common problems owners experience with this type of transmission are fluid leaks and low fluid levels. That is especially true as your vehicle ages and the parts start to get worn.

Fluids on the Garage Floor

As you clean your garage, you noticed a puddle of fluid (often red in color, but can be of another color as well) on the garage floor. Not knowing its implications, you ignored it. But then, you start to observe that your transmission takes time to engage into “D” gear or slow to shift to higher gears while driving. Are you still going to ignore the signs of a transmission problem?  You might ask, what’s wrong with the transmission? Well, your fluid could be low, or there might be a leak. Whatever the cause, one thing’s for certain: you need to take your car to the mechanic.

Grinding Noise

If your transmission produces a grinding noise, that’s a sure sign of a car problem. That means that certain bearings could have failed that allowed contact between parts that aren’t supposed to happen. Call your mechanic right away!

Warning Lights

Most vehicles nowadays have warning lights that illuminate when the transmission is experiencing a problem. When the “check engine” light turns on, you should have your car checked immediately.

Towing or Hauling Heavy Loads

If you use your car for towing or hauling heavy loads, you can damage your transmission and cause it to overheat. A warning light may illuminate, and you’ll smell something burning, and all these can be due to overheated transmissions. Vehicles that do a lot of heavy hauling and towing, no matter the size, needs an auxiliary transmission fluid cooler.

Damaged Sensors

If your sensors are damaged, chances are your transmission won’t be getting any signal. Thus, it causes your transmission to shift to “limp home” mode. This mode lets you drive your car at reduced speed until you have it repaired. In certain cases, your transmission will just shut down to prevent it from getting damaged further.

Other Warning Signs

There are other warning signs you shouldn’t ignore. Unusual noises, like whining or buzzing, not engaging smoothly to the next gear, and slipping out of gear should alert you that there’s a transmission problem.

Paying attention to your car is important as this can help prevent accidents. Aside from that, early repairs can also prevent unnecessary expenses in the long run. Knowing when to take your car to the mechanic and having your car insured will give you the peace of mind that you need while you’re on the road.

WellCovered Insurance offers auto insurance products that you can rely on. For worry-free driving, call us at (386) 218-4951 or visit our agency today. Talk to one of our agents and get a free auto insurance quote now.