Yes, both an automatic and manual transmission can overheat. When this happens, Accurate Auto Center advises that you will smell burning odors coming from underneath your automobile or from the clutch. This is just one sign that your transmission needs to be serviced at a minimum or repaired at a maximum. Here are other signs that your transmission is going bad.
Gear Shifts That Are Rough
Roughness, when the gears shift, is also a sign that the transmission is having problems. In the case of both overheating and roughness, the issue could be that the transmission fluid is too low or too old. Changing the transmission fluid every 30,000 miles helps to prevent these problems.
Leaking Transmission Fluid
This being said, if your transmission has developed a fluid leak, the transmission fluid level will be reduced by this. Specifically, if you drive an older automobile, the transmission pan or pan gasket could be leaking. Transmission fluid also leaks out of the hoses, seals, and torque converter.
Problems With the Gear Shifts
Any time a transmission is suffering, it will have difficulty shifting the gears. It may hesitate too long before it shifts the gears, or it may skip one or more of the gears in the gear cycle. Another sign that your transmission is going bad is if it slips out of gear and goes into neutral by itself.
Strange Transmission Sounds
When this happens, your engine will lose power and rev. Other odd sounds associated with a faulty transmission include humming when the transmission is in neutral, grinding, clunking, and squealing. You shouldn’t hear any of these noises coming from the transmission.
Unresponsive Transmission
Unfortunately, if the transmission is going bad, there will come a point when it becomes completely unresponsive. When this happens, the transmission may be unable to shift the gears. It may also be unable to go into gear when you move the gear shift from Park to Drive or Reverse.
Dashboard Warning Light
Finally, the transmission does not have a warning light on your vehicle’s dashboard. As such, the main computer chip, the engine control module, will turn on the check engine light if the transmission is malfunctioning. You will notice this in tandem with one or more of the signs listed above.
Accurate Auto Center in Tomball, TX, would be happy to inspect your automatic or manual transmission if you are having problems with your vehicle shifting gears. Call us today to schedule an appointment.