Regardless of whether you drive a manual or an automatic transmission vehicle, it’s important that you know when to take your vehicle to the mechanic shop for routine maintenance or repairs—especially if there is a suspected problem with your transmission.
As many newer car transmissions have upgraded technology or are hooked up to computerized systems, problems can be complicated and more expensive to fix. But not everyone is up on their auto knowledge. Instead, they take their vehicles in every 3,000 to 6,000 miles like clockwork for a routine tune up, oil change and other services. They may also request that a professional perform a full inspection to assess the condition of the vehicle.
Here are some warning signs you do not want to ignore, unless you’re ready to pay up for costly transmission repair in Conway, AR:
- Fluid leaks: All cars drop a little fluid time to time; if you check your car right now, you are likely to see a small pool of coolant or radiator fluid on the ground under your vehicle. But if you see transmission fluid or notice that levels are low, then it is in need of repairs. Not only can a transmission leak cause damage to your vehicle, but the fluid is hazardous to the environment, too. For these reasons, a leaky transmission, no matter how small, needs to be addressed immediately.
- Odd smells: Transmission fluid is what lubricates transmission parts to keep the component from overheating. Healthy fluid has a mild tart-sweet odor, so should you start detecting a burning odor, take it in to your mechanic for a fluid flush and change. Ignoring strange burning smells originating from the transmission can mean a total transmission rebuild, as opposed to minor transmission repair in Conway, AR.
- Unusual noises: A quick way to know if your vehicle’s transmission system is malfunctioning is the presence of unusual noises. In a manual transmission, you may experience the gears grinding as you shift. This could be an indication of worn or damaged transmission gear synchronizers, but loud grinding sounds after you’re in gear are likely symptoms of a worn clutch. Furthermore, automatic transmissions might run into the problem of transmission slips.
- Transmission slips: In an automatic, you might experience transmission slippage. The gears in an automatic are meant to shift on their own—not to change between gears randomly or when they’re not supposed to. If this happens, also listen to the engine for a whining or hissing sound, or changes in pitch. Other ways your vehicle is trying to tell you that something is not quite right with the transmission may be a lack of acceleration, a struggling engine or loss of power.
- Activated warning lights: Dashboard indicator lights are meant as an early warning system that tells you something may be wrong with your vehicle. Don’t brush off the fact that your transmission temperature light keeps popping on, because this means your transmission fluid is hotter than it should be, and thus the unit is operating at a higher temperature.
If you need foreign auto transmission repair in Conway, AR or any other specialized automotive services, look to Riverdale Automotive to get everything running smooth again. Contact us today!