Your vehicle's transmission moves the engine through its gears as you increase or decrease speed while driving. Today's vehicles can have manual or automatic transmissions, with a few running on semi-automatic as well. Whether you are doing the shifting yourself or trusting your vehicle to do it, you need to know that your transmission is going to do its job.
Types of Transmissions
When shopping for a vehicle, most people decide between one of two types of transmissions. These are:
Manual – Manual transmission vehicles are slightly more affordable and cost less to maintain. To drive, you must be able to shift the vehicle to the next gear when it needs it. The reward for learning to drive a manual, aka a "stick shift," is better gas mileage, faster acceleration, and lower repair costs.
Automatic – Learning to drive a manual transmission is tricky; so many drivers opt for an automatic. The automatic has a transmission that does the work for you. It costs more to buy an automatic transmission and repairs are more costly, but the ease of driving is worthwhile for many drivers
Regardless of the type of transmission you have, you need to keep it working to keep your car running, and that's where we can help.
Common Signs of Transmission Problems
Recognizing transmission problems early is key to avoiding extremely expensive repairs. Some signs that indicate you may be developing a transmission problem include:
Transmission fluid leaks – Transmission fluid is red or pink-tinted. If you're noticing any red-tinted drips or puddles, it is a sign of a leak. Always check transmission fluid levels before any long drives and as part of your routine engine checks.
Unusual sounds from the transmission – A properly functioning transmission will not make loud or unusual sounds. If you're hearing clunks, whining, or humming, you need to have your vehicle checked by a licensed mechanic.
Check Engine Light – The check engine light can mean many different things, but one potential problem is a problem with the transmission. Always bring it in for us to run the diagnostic codes to get to the root of the problem.
Unusual vibrations or a wrong "feel" to the transmission – You know your vehicle. If it feels like it's vibrating or shifting hard, it can be a symptom of a bigger problem. Let us take a look.
Won't change gears – If you have an automatic that won't quickly shift into gear, then it may be a transmission problem. Whether it won't move out of park or it won't shift into a higher gear as you accelerate, you need to have us take a look.
If you experience any of these issues, you need to bring your car to us right away. Sometimes transmission problems can be fixed without a full replacement or rebuild, if we catch the problem early. Call or stop in today.
