A reliable transmission is a priority for everyone. Nobody wants to experience the inconvenience of being broke down out on the road. When the subject of maintenance arises for a car or truck, most drivers first think of tires, brakes and engine – even washing and vacuuming – long before the transmission comes to mind. Here are some preventative maintenance tips:
- Have your vehicle’s transmission fluid changed regularly.
- At-risk vehicles need more frequent fluid changes and possibly an auxiliary cooler.
- Check the level and condition of your transmission fluid.
- Check the ground for leaks.
- Check your vehicle for obstructions around the radiator and air ducts.
- Check your car’s belts and hoses.
- Don’t use ‘Overdrive’ when pulling heavy loads or in mountainous terrain.
- Common-sense maintenance can help keep your car trouble-free.
- Call us for advice and avoid repair pitfalls by knowing the facts.
- Should you experience any transmission problems, call us to get a free check up right away.
Transmission Slipping
How do you know if your transmission is slipping? What does a slip feel like? First you need to know some very basic transmission terminology. Generally speaking your transmission is made up of a series of clutch discs and bands. These clutch discs and bands are applied at different times and sometimes together to make the vehicle shift into different gears. When applied the clutch discs basically bond together and are now all spinning at the same speed.
When your transmission is slipping that means it’s trying to apply say 2nd gear to make the 1-2 shift but since 2nd gear is slipping your RPM’s will continue to rise instead of go down like it should during a shift. Some refer to this as “revving”. Revving is when the needle on your tachometer (Engine RPM) goes up and doesn’t go back down. Usually acceleration suffers during this moment as well. A lot of times your speed will be enough that the transmission will shift into 3rd even though it never actually went into 2nd. It’s easy to confuse this as a very late shift when it’s actually skipping a gear due to excessive slipping.
Symptoms of a transmission slip:
- Late or delayed shifting
- Engine revving during a shift
- Not able to accelerate
- Transmission venting fluid
- Excessive transmission or engine temperatures
Transmission Fluid Leak
A transmission fluid leak, as with any transmission problem, is not something to ignore.
- The transmission fluid serves to cool and lubricate.
- There is a clicking noise in the transmission while in 4-wheel drive.
- There is a clunking from under the vehicle when you change gears.
With an automatic transmission, the fluid also transfers power and provides the necessary pressure to operate the transmission. As the amount of transmission fluid goes down, the ability to operate and keep the transmission cool is reduced.
- Overheating causes damage to a transmission that could ultimately cause a major repair.
Regardless of the cause, transmission problems require immediate attention. The longer they are allowed to continue, the more damage they may cause. Before your vehicle becomes inoperative, take your car to Chance Transmissions, Inc. for an external diagnostic service. Our certified transmission technicians will help get your vehicle back on the road as soon as possible.
Noise In The Transmission
Noise can indicate that transmission parts are hitting together abnormally, which should not happen in a normally functioning transmission and when clean transmission fluid is lubricating the moving parts. A transmission should make little noise when operating properly.
Your vehicle likely has a transmission (or clutch) problem if:
- There is buzzing or any other noise from the transmission
- There is a clicking noise in transmission while in 4-wheel drive
- There is a clunking from under the vehicle when you change gears
The problem may be one of several possibilities:
- The transmission fluid is low, dirty, or incorrect
- There is an internal problem in the transmission or transfer case
- There are external controls or parts that need adjustment or replacement
- Electrical components need adjustment or replacement
- In an automatic transmission, the transmission computer may need replacement
- Internal parts may be worn or damaged which may require a major repair
Regardless of the cause, transmission problems require immediate attention. The longer they are allowed to continue, the more damage they may cause. Before your vehicle becomes inoperative, take your car to the experts. Our certified transmission technicians will help get your vehicle back on the road as soon as possible.
Transmission Seems To Be Slipping
If your transmission is slipping between gear changes or if your clutch seems to be slipping, you might have a transmission problem. A transmission is designed to hold effortlessly in each gear at predetermined speeds. If it does not, the problem may be one of several possibilities:
- External controls need adjustment
- External controls need replacement
- Electrical components need adjustment or replacement
- In an automatic transmission, the transmission computer may need replacement
- Low fluid level or insufficient fluid pressure
- The clutch needs adjustment or replacement
- Internal parts may be worn or damaged which may require a major repair
Trouble Shifting Gears
Your vehicle likely has a transmission (or clutch) problem if:
- Your transmission is not going into or staying in gear
- Shifting is difficult or delayed
- Your gears are grinding
- The clutch pedal on your manual transmission is not working properly
The problem may be one of several possibilities:
- External controls need adjustment
- External controls need replacement
- Electrical components need adjustment or replacement
- In an automatic transmission, the transmission computer may need replacement
- An internal, or major repair, may be necessary (if parts within the transmission have been damaged)
Regardless of the cause, transmission problems require immediate attention. The longer they are allowed to continue, the more damage they may cause. Before your vehicle becomes inoperative, take your car to the experts. Our certified transmission technicians will help get your vehicle back on the road as soon as possible.
Vehicle Is Inoperative
Regardless of the cause, if your vehicle is inoperative and you think it might have a transmission problem, call Chance Transmissions, Inc. If your vehicle needs to be towed, we can make the arrangements.
- Transmission problems require immediate attention.
- The longer they are allowed to continue, the more damage they may cause.
Take your car to the experts at Chance Transmissions, Inc. Our certified transmission technicians will help get your vehicle back on the road as soon as possible.
