If this is your first car, you might not know much about it, especially the things that can go wrong with your transmission. The transmission is one of the most important parts of your car. If it malfunctions, the repairs can be costly. Here are a few transmission problems you should be on the lookout for.
Smell of Burning Transmission Fluid
Your car should never smell like burning fluid. If you start smelling anything that resembles burning fluid, you should take your car in for transmission maintenance. Transmission fluid should stay cool. The burning smell means that your fluid is overheating, which can lead to a damaged transmission.
Transmission Makes Noises in Neutral
The transmission should not make noises while it's in neutral. If you're hearing bumps, thumps or grinds from the transmission while it's in neutral, you may have an issue with your transmission. Some of the causes of neutral noises include:
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Low fluid levels
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Worn transmission bearings
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Damaged or worn reverse idler gear
Gears Slip While Driving
Once your car is in gear, it should stay there until it's time to switch, such as when your engine reaches the proper RPM. However, when there are problems with the transmission, the gears will slip out of gear while you're driving. This can be particularly dangerous if the gears slip when you're trying to accelerate to avoid a collision. If your car slips out of gear while you're driving, you need to get your car into a transmission shop as soon as possible.
Transmission Fluid Leaks
If your transmission is functioning properly, you should not need to refill your transmission. So, if you have transmission fluid leaking out from under your car, you'll need to have your transmission serviced. It's a good idea to check your fluid levels once a month, to ensure that you don't have unseen leaks somewhere in the transmission line.
Transmission Shimmies into Gear
The transition from one gear to the next should be smooth. If your car shakes or shimmies as it shifts gears, the transmission may need to be adjusted. If your car makes intense jarring movements when it shift into the next gear, your transmission probably needs repairs. You should take your car in for an inspection.
Now that you have your first car, you want to take proper care of it. If you notice any of the problems listed above, you should have your car inspected by a mechanic who specializes in transmission repairs.
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