How Can I Tell If My Transmission is Acting Up?

April 16, 2018 | By Mister Transmission

Transmission Problems

Though we sometimes take them for granted, automobiles are actually pretty complex. There are a plethora of different parts and components that must work together just so to make sure that your vehicle is running smoothly. And if things aren’t running smoothly, it can be difficult to know just which one of those parts is acting up.

If your brakes are squeaking and it takes a long time for your vehicle to come to a stop, you can pretty easily figure out that your brakes are the problem. If every time you drive down the street and your Honda Accord sounds like a Boeing 747, then there’s a good chance that your muffler is the issue. But how do you tell if your transmission is the problem? What are the symptoms of a bad transmission?

Slipping

The first item on our symptom list is slipping. If you have a bad transmission, your vehicle might tend to slip out of gear. This occurs when you’re driving in one gear and then your vehicle suddenly slips into a different gear. This is obviously a problem. Far from just being a minor inconvenience, a slipping transmission is downright dangerous. You do not want to be driving your vehicle with the fear that at any moment, your vehicle could just switch gears on you. If you’re experiencing slipping, bring your vehicle in for an inspection and repair right away.

Grinding

The second symptom on our list is grinding. With slipping, your transmission switches gears far too easily (ie: without you telling it to do so). With grinding, it’s just the opposite. Grinding occurs when you shift gears and your transmission makes grinding and clunking noises. And you can feel it, too. Clearly, grinding is not ever a symptom you want your vehicle to exhibit.

Leaking

Leaking is a symptom of a bad transmission that is easy to spot. If as you drive out your driveway or parking space, you see patches of dark red liquid on the ground, you have a leak. Transmission fluid is the lifeblood your transmission. Indeed, all of the symptoms on this list can be caused or exacerbated by insufficient levels or quality of transmission fluid. Leaks can be relatively simple to seal, or difficult, depending on where and how big the leak is.

Burning odor

Like with many things in life, a bad odor is a harbinger of doom. If your vehicle is emitting a bad, burning smell, something is wrong. A number of parts in your vehicle could emit such a smell, but if you haven’t just “burned rubber” as you peeled out of your driveway, there’s a good chance that odor is coming from your transmission. Get your transmission problem checked immediately.

Noises

If you’ve driven your vehicle for any length of time, you’re probably used to the noises it routinely makes. If it starts to make odd, new noises, take note. A bad transmission will sometimes emit unusual, “whining” noises that suggest something is amiss inside. As with all of these symptoms of bad transmissions, you ignore this symptom at your peril. 

Mister Transmission

If you think your vehicle is displaying symptoms of a bad transmission, please do not hesitate to contact us today.

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Customer Reviews
Excellent service. Brian and other...
Navjot Kaur
Excellent service. Brian and other team members were very helpful. They gave honest advice for my vehicle and I can’t thank them enough for saving my thousands of dollars on repair.
Date: March 16, 2024
Website: Google
Amazing customer service! Super friendly!...
Cynicalest T
Amazing customer service! Super friendly! Family owned by mark and son both awesome people!
Date: March 15, 2024
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Mark and his staff are...
Ryan Rose
Mark and his staff are the BEST!!! Kind, knowledgeable, transparent. Will gladly take any and all of my future business to him and his exceptional team.
Date: March 15, 2024
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Excellent help! Chris had his...
Steve Vandevelde
Excellent help! Chris had his guys test and inspect my transmission for free. Knowing that I preferred to save money by doing as much as possible myself, they gave me all sorts of advice, laying out the pros and cons for my choice. I trust these guys. I recommend this shop.
Date: March 15, 2024
Website: Google
Jamie and the staff went...
DARIN GEAKE
Jamie and the staff went above and beyond to help me get my car fixed. I have a Subaru that was having issues and they spent a lot of time making sure everything was done correctly. Even though they did extra work and got extra parts to make it work, he stuck to his original quote (which btw was almost half of what I was quoted by a different shop). I would recommend Mr. Transmission to anyone!!!
Date: March 15, 2024
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Thank you for the great...
Linda Jones
Thank you for the great service we received at Mister Transmission in Barrie. It was exceptional. They made sure the vehicle was at 100% before they let us pick it up. I would recommend them to anyone that needs transmission repairs. All the employees were pleasant and made you feel important. If you had any questions they answered them right away. Great job everyone. Ted and Linda Jones.
Date: March 14, 2024
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I needed an expensive repair...
Daniel Zwiercan
I needed an expensive repair but the folks at Mister Transmission helped me save money where I could and did a great job. Thank you.
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Friendly and efficient, you couldn’t...
Dale Allen
Friendly and efficient, you couldn’t ask for much more from a mechanic.
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Got my car back fast...
Brenda Kane
Got my car back fast , amazing staff. Thanks Mr transmission!!
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Great facilities and friendly staff,...
Jack
Great facilities and friendly staff, highly recommend!
Date: March 13, 2024
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