Let’s face it; you drive all the time in Sacramento. If your car breaks down, you are in a tough spot! One easy way to keep you and your car running is to take care of your transmission. Major transmission repair can be expensive, so it’s important to get regular maintenance to keep your transmission up and running.
You can also avoid getting stuck on the side of the highway or out in the California sun by keeping an eye out for the five following signs that your transmission needs repair. If you see any, or all, of the following, take your car to an auto repair professional as soon as you can.
If you’re driving and it feels like you’re in one gear and then the gear changes for seemingly no reason, your transmission may be slipping. Look out for a change in the pitch of the engine sound, or if it starts to sound like a whine. Your car might also feel like its struggling or isn’t accelerating like it used to.
If your car delays between when it engages into drive and when it actually starts moving forward, your transmission is suffering from delayed engagement. Another telltale sign of delayed engagement is when you shift out of Park and into Drive and there is a long pause in which the engine revs but the car isn’t moving forward.
Your transmission may need a tune-up if it has rough shifts. Rough shifts are when it feels like your transmission is refusing to change gears as smoothly as it normally does. This manifests in a loud thud or clunk when the car shifts. You can also notice if the car has trouble getting up to speed.
Your transmission should have sealed units that never leak, so if you notice leak spots in your garage or driveway, you might have active leaks. An active leak is very dangerous and requires immediate professional repair.
To double check if your transmission is actively leaking, put a piece of cardboard under your car over night and check it in the morning for red or brown spots.
Always make sure your auto repair professional reads the factory specifications for your car before refilling your transmission fluid to avoid overflowing.
- Transmission Warning Light
One of the easiest ways to know if your transmission needs a tune up is if the “check engine” light comes on. That light on doesn’t necessarily mean you have a transmission problem, but when its in conjunction with any of the above issues you definitely have a transmission issue.
A warning light typically means the computer is generating an error code that can be checked with a shop’s diagnostic equipment. For transmissions specifically, “P0700” is a code that can indicate a general transmission problem. If you see that code, get your transmission checked.
Look for any of the above five warning signs that your transmission needs repair. If you see one, visit a Sacramento transmission repair shop right away.