Your car needs a functioning transmission, otherwise all that power that the engine produces won’t get transferred to the wheels. Miller Auto Care has these suggestions for what to watch for if you’re concerned that your transmission is going bad.
Your Car Is Shifting Rough or Isn’t Shifting
Even in an automatic, you can hear and feel how the transmission is shifting. If it feels as if the car just isn’t engaging the gears or the car jolts when you expect the gears to engage, your transmission may have issues. It’s more difficult to notice this when it’s an intermittent problem.
You Feel the Transmission Slipping
Slipping is something else you might experience if your transmission is going bad. It’s slightly different than rough shifting because instead of jolting, you might hear the engine revving, but you won’t see any movement from that. So, when you press the accelerator, there’s a lot of noise, but not much happens until the gears stop slipping and engage.
You’re Hearing Some New Noises
Beyond noises from the engine, you might hear noises from the transmission itself. Whining noises, grinding sounds, and anything else that sounds unusual is not good, particularly if you’re hearing those noises from behind you, toward the rear of the car. Those noises are likely to get worse as the issues with the transmission get worse.
There Are Transmission Fluid Leaks Under Your Car
Leaks of any kind are bad news, but if you’re noticing leaks underneath your car toward the rear, it’s likely to be from the transmission. Transmission fluid is greasy and tends to be translucent for the most part. It’s most likely to be red or reddish-brown in color, unless it’s extremely old and then it’s likely to be darker and possibly opaque.
The Check Engine Light Comes On
There’s usually no dedicated dashboard light for the transmission, but when there’s a problem with the transmission your car is still going to communicate that to you. You’re most likely to see the check engine light, which can be a little scary. This is why it’s important to have your car inspected any time the check engine light turns on.
We can help you to diagnose your transmission issues quickly and accurately. Give us a call at Miller Auto Care in Medford, OR and we can set up an appointment for you. Once we know exactly what’s happening with your transmission, we can recommend the best repair option for you.