If your car, truck, or utility vehicle shakes or vibrates when the automatic transmission shifts gears, this is an indication that your transmission needs to be serviced or repaired. In some cases, this vibration can be caused by low transmission fluid, but it’s important to have the issue checked by an automotive professional to make sure there isn’t anything else wrong. Willoughby Hills Auto Repair advises this is just one sign of transmission problems. We are going to list the other signs below.
Check Engine Light
Oftentimes, the check engine light will turn on if the transmission is experiencing issues. In fact, if your vehicle shakes when the transmission shifts gears and you have a check engine warning on the dashboard, it’s safe to say that your transmission needs immediate service or repair.
Burning Odors
The transmission can also overheat if you haven’t had the transmission fluid changed within 30,000 miles. Old, dirty, or low transmission fluid is unable to protect the transmission the way it should. Consequently, the transmission will get too hot and you will smell burning odors.
Gear Problems
A malfunctioning automatic transmission is not going to shift the gears properly. It will skip gears as it goes through the cycle, it may refuse to shift gears at all, or it may slip out of gear. Any of these signs point to a faulty transmission that needs immediate attention.
Leaking Fluid
If you have red spots on your garage floor underneath the center of your automobile, your transmission is leaking. This not only reduces the fluid levels in the transmission and opens you up to the risk of it overheating, but it also points to a problem with one of the transmission parts.
Strange Sounds
Your vehicle’s transmission may also make strange noises if it is struggling. Common sounds include grinding and clunking noises. This being said, you might also hear humming noises, especially when the transmission is in neutral, and squealing sounds.
Unresponsiveness
Finally, if your transmission dies completely, it will not respond. In other words, you may try to shift it into gear, but your gearshift will not move to Drive or Reverse. If the gear shift does move, the transmission may not actually go into either gear.
Call Willoughby Hills Auto Repair in Willoughby Hills, OH, right away if your vehicle is experiencing any of the transmission problems listed above. The longer you wait to have the issue addressed the more damage you will cause to the transmission.