What do you know about your car’s transmission fluid? Most car owners aren’t even sure how to check transmission fluid, so it’s a good idea to know what it might look and sound like if there’s a problem with transmission fluid. Here’s some advice from Viking Automotive that can help.
The Transmission Is Hesitating
When you’re driving, you might press the accelerator and feel a little bit of a wait before the transmission seems to catch and take off in the new gear. That’s called hesitation, and it can be a sign that you need to get the transmission fluid checked out. If the fluid is older or breaking down, it might not be letting the transmission do its job.
Or the Transmission Won’t Shift Properly
Eventually you may start to notice that the transmission doesn’t seem to be shifting properly at all. It might have trouble finding the new gear or it might even pop out of gear into a lower one. All of these are signs that there’s definitely something up with how the transmission is functioning.
You’re Hearing Weird Sounds
When it’s working properly you probably don’t hear much from your car’s transmission. But when the fluid is old and worn out or there’s something else wrong, you might be hearing some complaints from the transmission. Those complaints might be in the form of whines, clunks, grinding sounds, or other noises. Ignoring those is a bad idea.
You’re Smelling Burnt Transmission Fluid
Transmission fluid is meant to help cool the transmission down, but if it can’t keep up and the transmission is too hot, you may start to smell burnt transmission fluid. It’s not a pleasant smell and you’re going to want to get it checked out as soon as you start smelling it to reduce the possibility of further damage.
Or Seeing a Transmission Fluid Leak
Finally, if you’re seeing any transmission fluid underneath the car, you need to get it addressed right away. Leaks are always a bad sign and there’s no way to tell how much fluid the transmission has lost. Even a small leak can be a big problem.
Worried about your car’s transmission fluid? You don’t have to handle it alone. Call Viking Automotive in Houston, TX today. We’ll inspect your car’s transmission and get a handle on what’s going on with your transmission fluid. From there we can recommend the right next steps for your car.
