You reverse out of your driveway and put your car in drive when it starts to make a loud clunking sound. However, the sound goes away after a few seconds so you continue on your way. This happens more frequently until one day your car sits in the driveway and will not move at all. What happened? Chances are that the transmission of your car has failed.
What The Transmission Does
The transmission of a car is a vital component of the vehicle. It is typically mounted in the front chassis of the car. The basic function of the transmission is to move power from the car engine to the wheels and control how much of this power is transferred. There are several types of car transmissions.
Manual transmissions come with a clutch pedal and a gear shift, which the driver of the car uses to change gears. When the driver wants to change gears, he has to push in the clutch to disconnect the engine from the transmission. This allows him to shift into a different gear. When he releases the clutch pedal, he allows it to engage again, reconnecting the engine to the transmission.
In automatic transmissions, this process occurs automatically within the transmission itself. Automatic transmissions typically use a torque converter to determine when it is appropriate to shift gears. When the driver speeds up, the transmission changes to a higher gear. When you slow down, the transmission moves to a lower one.
Transmissions are important because they regulate your vehicle’s performance on the whole. When your vehicle comes to a stop, the transmission prevents the wheels from moving even though your engine is still running. Transmissions also minimize the amount of wear on your engine by running it at the optimum power to match your driving speed.
Transmission Warning Signs
Fluid Issues
Transmission fluid is essential for cooling and lubricating your transmission system. A pool of transmission fluid on your garage floor is a sure sign that there is a leak in your transmission. Furthermore, if your transmission fluid is low, contaminated with substances like dirt or grease, or smelling burnt, you will need to get your transmission checked out.
Unusual Sounds
Being on the road can be noisy but none of the sounds should come from your chassis. Whirring, clunking, whining, or rattling sounds can mean that certain components of your transmission are worn or wearing out and need replacing. In manual cars, you can generally hear these sounds come from under the car when you depress the clutch pedal or shift gears.
Sluggish Performance
If your car is traveling at a low speed despite high revs, it may mean that the clutch is worn out in your manual transmission or that your automatic transmission has poor hydraulic performance. Your vehicle may feel sluggish when accelerating and take longer than usual to reach a target speed. It may also vibrate or shudder when it is in neutral.
Gear Problems
When the gears in your vehicle are not functioning well, it is a good indicator that you may have transmission issues. Your car may slip out of gear into neutral while you are driving or fall out of sync with the revs on the engine. In a manual car, difficulty engaging and disengaging the clutch and trouble shifting gears are other warning signs.
Check Engine Light
Your check engine light can come on for a variety of automotive issues, one of which could be a failing transmission. It may just be a small issue that is not causing a huge problem yet, but you should take your engine warnings seriously. Check your car thoroughly to make sure your transmission is not causing the warning.
How To Fix Your Transmission
The easiest way to get your transmission back in top working condition is to take your vehicle to a reputable transmission repair shop. Most of the time, there are components of the transmission that are worn or broken and require replacement. Many of these components such as the transmission seals are clearly accessible and can be replaced relatively easily.
Unfortunately, sometimes the part that is causing the problem is unknown or inaccessible without removing the transmission from the chassis. In such cases, the transmission must be removed from the car and overhauled. This is generally referred to as a rebuild, where the transmission is taken apart, inspected, cleaned, repaired or replaced, and put back together.
If it gets to this point, it may be a better idea to just replace the transmission. Although it is more expensive, you know that a new transmission will come with no issues whereas fixing an old transmission may only extend its working life for a short time. You can sometimes save money by getting a second-hand transmission instead of a brand new one.
The transmission is essential for your car to function. The best way to keep it from failing is to take good care of it by changing the transmission fluid regularly and taking your car to an auto mechanic for a checkup once you notice any warning signs. This can prevent small issues from ballooning into severe problems that end up costing you thousands of dollars.