You rely on your car’s automatic transmission so much that you probably don’t even think about it. That is, until something goes wrong. Demore’s Automotive can service and repair your transmission when it needs it, whether automatic or manual. We are going to list seven signs below that point to an automatic transmission going bad. Bring your vehicle to our shop ASAP if you notice any of them.
1. Check Engine Light
One of the first things that might happen is you may end up with a check engine warning. If the sensors in the transmission send the engine control unit an error code, it will turn on the check engine light. The light will remain illuminated until you have the automatic transmission repaired.
2. Hot or Burning Odors
Hot or burning odors can indicate a problem with the transmission fluid. The fluid is either old and dirty or too low. Driving with an overheating transmission can damage it, so it’s a good idea to avoid driving your automobile until you have the transmission inspected and serviced.
3. Leaking Red Fluid
Leaking red fluid underneath the center of your car, truck, or utility vehicle is a sign that your transmission is leaking. Transmission fluid can leak out of the pan gasket or pan itself, the hoses, the seals, the torque converter or other automatic transmission parts.
4. Problems Shifting Gears
If the transmission is having problems shifting gears, you’ve definitely got a transmission issue. Examples of problems that need attention right away include skipping gears during the shifting cycle, slipping out of gear and into neutral, and shifting gears when it’s too late.
5. Unresponsiveness
Over time, your transmission will become unresponsive altogether. It will refuse to go into gear or to shift through the gears. Naturally, you cannot drive your automobile in this condition. It’s best to have your vehicle towed to our shop to get the transmission repaired.
6. Unusual Noises
Strange noises may precede total unresponsiveness. You may hear clunking or grinding when you put your vehicle into gear and when the gears shift, or humming or squealing when the automobile is in neutral. Don’t ignore these signs of transmission trouble. They indicate serious problems.
7. Vibration/Shaking
Finally, another sign that your transmission is going bad is vibration or shaking when the transmission shifts gears. This can be caused by something as simple as low transmission fluid or something more complicated such as problems with the gears themselves.
Call Demore’s Automotive in Palmer, MA, today if your car, truck, or utility vehicle is experiencing any of the above symptoms of a bad transmission.
