What Does a Car Transmission Do?

At the heart of your car lies the transmission. Without the power flowing from the transmission, your vehicle would not move one inch. So, it’s one of the most vital organs in your car and provides the power for every trip you take.

If your car refuses to budge when stopped at a traffic light on Route 114, your transmission may need some attention. To avoid these travel snags, make sure that you get your transmission checked out at the proper intervals.

Signs of a Failing Transmission

As mentioned before, if your car does not move, it could be the transmission, but other signals could point you in the same direction. If you know these symptoms in advance, you can watch out for anything unusual that may occur. Then, you can schedule an appointment before any trouble starts.

Here are the signs:

• Grinding noises
• Strange smells
• Shaking or slipping gears

Unless you’re crunching over gravel, grinding noises could be a sign of transmission issues. These and other odd sounds could mean that your car needs a transmission fluid top-off.

Burning toast smells wafting from your car will surely surprise you. What you may not know is that this overpowering scent could be another sign of a bad transmission. If you detect this smell, it may be that the transmission fluid is old and should be replaced.

Gears that shake and slip also indicate that your car’s transmission should be examined. While gears shaking and slipping can be surprising, make an appointment as soon as you can, and our techs can inspect the system.

Of course, we cannot forget that if you see the dashboard lights appear for the transmission, it’s best to bring your vehicle in for service. Look at your owner’s manual for a guide to the dashboard lights.

Check For a Transmission Leak

Transmission leaks can occur, and to detect them on your own, all you need is a piece of cardboard. Here are the quick steps you can take:

• Place cardboard under the car
• Wait 10 minutes
• Check the cardboard for reddish-pink stains

So, whenever you have a moment and think that you may have a transmission leak, check for yourself.

Grab a piece of cardboard cut from a box, bring it outside to your car, and go back inside or take a seat in your backyard or deck to wait out the 10 minutes. Return to your DIY lab and remove the cardboard. If you spot reddish-pink stains, it means that your transmission contains a leak. It may also smell sugary sweet like fruit punch.

Once you get the results of your experiment, give us a call or schedule your appointment online. When we find the leak, we can patch it up or fix your transmission.