You drive your vehicle so much, sometimes you take for granted how hard it works for you. It is something that is made, after all, with numerous mechanical components. Something is bound to break down, and that could leave you stranded one day.
That’s why it’s important to pay attention to the warning signs your vehicle gives you. There are things you will see, hear, smell and feel that are all signs that something may not be right. Your vehicle’s transmission is one of the most hardworking components, so it’s important to pay attention to signs that it may be having problems. Without a properly working transmission, your vehicle can’t operate properly, or even at all.
When you sense there is a problem with your vehicle’s transmission, take it to Rob Green GMC as soon as possible. Don’t let a minor repair turn into a major problem because you didn’t pay attention to the warning signs. Here are some of the signals you should pay attention to that suggest your vehicle’s transmission needs immediate attention.
Poor response, or none at all
You know what your vehicle feels like when it’s running smoothly, so pay attention to any hesitation or difficulty your vehicle experiences as it attempts to shift into the next gear. There could be a number of reasons this is happening, including electrical, mechanical or even hydraulic. But they all need attention as soon as possible. Otherwise, you could face much bigger problems down the road.
This can be a warning sign in a vehicle with an automatic or a manual transmission. In a manual vehicle, you might feel a hesitation in the next gear engaging, or loss of acceleration that then jolts into a faster speed. Perhaps you feel like the car is just struggling to accelerate, which can also be a sign of gear slipping.
Listen to the strange sounds
Just as you know how your vehicle feels when it is operating normally, you also know the sounds it makes. Pay attention to the new, odd and different sounds you may hear, which could be evidence of a transmission problem. Your mechanic can help you identify what it means and how to address it.
The noises most commonly heard as a transmission is beginning to experience problems are whining, buzzing, grinding and clunking. It’s hard to know exactly what is causing the strange sound. Perhaps it’s a small part, or maybe a major component that makes up your transmission. It could be sounds warning of problems with the engine, the exhaust, the clutch or even the drive shaft, in addition to concerns about the transmission. Regardless, it needs immediate attention.
Fluid leaks are not normal
You may think that every vehicle has some leak or another, so it’s not really a big deal if yours is leaking fluid. But it is probably the most obvious sign that something is not right, particularly when it comes to your transmission.
The fluid in your transmission is an important lubricant that helps maintain, and even extend, the life of your vehicle. Your transmission is a closed system, which means it is not like other components of your vehicle that might produce leaks more commonly. If your transmission is leaking fluid, that’s a sign that something is wrong. This could lead to overheating and eventual break down if you don’t address it immediately. Contact the service department at Rob Green GMC to diagnose the problem that is causing the leak.
Jerking and Shaking Means Trouble
This is another one of those times when it seems obvious to say, but if you experience shaking and jerking while your vehicle is shifting gears, that’s one of the more serious signs of trouble. You should take your vehicle to a mechanic immediately if your vehicle jerks or shakes because it could be a sign of transmission failure coming soon.
Chances are these weren’t the first warning signs your vehicle gave you that there is a problem. The trembling and shaking that’s happening probably came after your vehicle struggled to shift into gear, a phenomenon known as gear slipping. While you may have ignored the slipping, ignoring the shaking and the jerking almost certainly means you will find yourself stranded on the side of the road soon.
What’s that smell?
There can be the occasional bad odor coming from your car at times, maybe something that smells like burning. But if it’s your transmission that’s producing that smell, that’s a sign of trouble you shouldn’t ignore. It’s particularly true if you experience that strange smell and don’t see any fluid leaking. That’s a good indication that your transmission is overheating and the fluid is burning, something that becomes more common as your vehicle approaches 100,000 miles.
Pay attention to that smell of burning rubber coming from your car. That’s probably transmission fluid, which smells different from engine oil when it burns. That smell might also be accompanied by smoke because the transmission fluid is getting extremely hot. It’s important to maintain the functionality of your vehicle’s transmission fluid because once it burns, it stops lubricating and managing heat properly. And that can lead to major breakdowns in your transmission in the future.
Check your engine when your dashboard says so
If your check engine light comes on, make sure to have your engine checked. It’s a sign that something could be wrong with your transmission, or other vehicle components.
Take your vehicle to Rob Green GMC’s service department to have a complete diagnostic conducted on your vehicle. The expert mechanics there can find out why your engine light came on, and give you advice on what to do. This is one of the easiest and first signs to identify that there is a problem. You paid good money for your vehicle, so don’t ignore the sophisticated monitoring system installed to alert you to trouble ahead.
