We all want to treat our vehicles and our transmissions well and give them the best chance at longevity and a life free of problems. But it can be hard to know exactly how to do that. Transmissions have become more and more complex in recent decades. Increased digitization has made transmissions perform noticeably better than before, but they have also complicated transmissions and there can be a lot of things that can go wrong. And a lot of possible causes for those problems, as well.
There are several common transmission problems that can occur fairly regularly. And all these problems can have different causes. There’s no “one-all” cause of transmission problems…except, there kind of is. Wear and tear. The older and more used a piece of machinery or equipment becomes, such as a transmission or automobiles more generally, the likelier you are to incur problems. That’s just a fact; time is not particularly kind to anyone or anything. But you can’t not drive your vehicle in the hopes of avoiding transmission problems; that’s silly. So what can we learn about some of the more common causes of transmission problems?
Perhaps the most easily identifiable transmission problem to detect for most drivers is a fluid leak. If you’re seeing patches and trails of red fluid as your drive away, the chances are that your transmission is leaking. Well, what causes leaks?
One of the primary causes of transmission fluid leaks are gaps in your transmission. But these can be difficult to narrow down because the leak could be just about anywhere: a space in a pan gasket, torque converter, fluid lines, the transmission pan, or the seals. However, there’s no need to panic. Most (though not all) reseal jobs are relatively straightforward.
Another common problem is a transmission that slips. A slipping transmission usually (but not always) has one specific cause. Thankfully, it also has a relatively easy solution. Low levels of transmission fluid can cause transmission slippage, as well as a whole host of other problems. If you think you have noticed your transmission slipping, check your fluid levels with a dipstick and if the level is too low, replace the fluid. Checking and changing your transmission fluid are both things we can do for you at Mister Transmission.
As mentioned earlier, transmissions have become increasingly computerized over the years. This means that many transmission problems are now, in essence, computer problems. Such problems do not have clear causes or solutions. At least, not clear to the naked eye.
At Mister Transmission, our technicians utilize diagnostic equipment they connect to your vehicle’s on-board computer. This produces a code stating where the transmission’s problem lies. Next, we take the vehicle for a test drive so that we can monitor its behaviour in real-time. While more comprehensive and hands-on evaluations may yet be required, technology is an important tool in determining the right starting point for further investigations.
If you wish to know more about transmission problems and their causes or perhaps have your transmission repaired or serviced, please get in touch! We’d love to take a look at your vehicle’s transmission.
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