If your check engine light has turned on in you notice any of the problems listed below, your automatic transmission is going bad. John’s Auto Care advises that the best way to avoid this problem is to have the transmission serviced every 30,000 miles. This allows us to change the transmission fluid and filter and make sure all of the internal mechanisms are operating as they should be.
Slips Out of Gear
Transmission service helps to avoid the transmission from slipping out of gear while you are driving. When this happens, you lose significant power and there is a noticeable increase in the engine’s RPMs. This happens because the transmission has put itself into neutral by itself.
Inability to Shift Gears
Slipping out of gear is a precursor to more serious transmission problems. For example, the transmission may it to the point where it is no longer able to shift gears when it needs to. It may hesitate significantly throughout the gear cycle before it gets bad enough that it won’t shift the gears.
Inability to Go Into Gear
You may also end up with an automatic transmission that refuses to go into gear after you start your automobile. Unfortunately, this will leave you stranded with the transmission in Park. You will have to have your automobile towed to our shop for transmission repair.
Jerking at Each Gear Shift
A faulty transmission can also make your vehicle jerk every time it shifts a gear. This can be a sign that the transmission is wearing down internally or that you have low transmission fluid in the transmission. Again, have the fluid changed every 30,000 miles to avoid this.
Leaking Red Fluid
Naturally, one thing that will reduce the transmission fluid levels is a fluid leak. If you see red spots or puddles on the garage floor that are located closer to the center of your automobile rather than underneath the engine, this is a sign that your transmission is leaking.
Overheating Smells
Unfortunately, as the fluid level is reduced by the leak, your transmission will start to run too hot while you are driving your automobile. You will smell hot odors coming from underneath your automobile. Stop driving your vehicle if you smell burning odors.
Strange Transmission Noises
Finally, you may start to hear strange sounds coming from the transmission if it is going bad. For example, it may hum when it is in neutral or grinding gears as it shifts them. It may also start to clunk or squeal. None of this is normal.
Call John’s Auto Care in Roseville, CA, today to schedule a service appointment for your transmission if your vehicle is having any of the problems listed above.
