How to Anticipate Automatic Transmission Problems
In sports, it is often said that the best defence is a good offence. If we extrapolate from this aphorism and translate the meaning to the context of vehicle care, it is best to remain ever vigilant with regards to transmission problems. The best way to avoid major problems with your transmission is to anticipate them and head them off at the proverbial pass. If you notice a small problem, get it fixed before it becomes a big problem. And do whatever you can to avoid the development of problems in the first place. It may take some time and effort, but if you can anticipate transmission problems before they occur, you will save yourself a lot more time and effort in the long run, as well as money.
Automatic transmission problems
But just how do you anticipate problems with your automatic transmission? How can you know if things are about to go pear shaped? Well, the first thing you need to do is arm yourself with knowledge. You need to know what some common automatic transmission problems are before you can anticipate them. So let’s first go over some of the most common symptoms of problems with automatic transmissions:
- Slipping – transmission slipping from one gear into another
- Rough shifts – hearing or experiencing bumps or jolts when you shift gears
- Delayed shifts – when your transmission lags behind you when you shift gears
- Leaks – when you see transmission fluid underneath your vehicle after you’ve parked, you have a transmission fluid leak
- Warning light – an obvious one, but still far too often ignored; a warning light (such as “Check Engine”) could indicate a problem with your transmission.
If you experience any of the above problems, bring your vehicle in for inspection and repair immediately. The longer you wait, the greater the risk of the problem worsening, which could you leave you with a larger repair bill, stranded by the side of the highway, or worse still, in a collision.
Prevention is better than cure
Just like you should eat your daily serving of vegetables and avoid junk food in order to maintain good health for the future, so too should you take care of your vehicle to prevent future problems. Most any transmission problem can be caused or exacerbated by insufficient levels or poor quality of transmission fluid. This is why you should check your transmission fluid regularly. If your fluid is a reddish translucent colour, you should be OK. If your transmission fluid is dark and smells funny, you should change it. You can change your transmission fluid yourself, or bring it into the shop if you would rather not spend time on it yourself.
Also, just like with your body, you shouldn’t deprive your transmission of regular checkups. At Mister Transmission, we have our Multi-Check Inspection that methodically tests all aspects of your transmission and can find any problems with your car’s transmission, including problems you may not have even noticed yourself.
Contact us
If you think your transmission is due for an inspection or you suspect you’re already experiencing automatic (or even manual) transmission problems, please bring your vehicle into the shop or contact us today.
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