Recognize 10 Symptoms of Problematic Transmission to Avoid Severe Damage
Transmission is a crucial part of motor vehicles, especially cars. This is because the transmission serves as a conduit for power from the engine to the wheels, allowing the car to run smoothly as desired by the driver.
As you may know, there are two types of transmissions: manual and automatic. A manual transmission is usually controlled with a clutch, so as the name suggests, it must be operated manually by the driver. An automatic transmission, of course, is the opposite of a manual transmission.
Like other car components, the transmission can also have problems if not treated properly. So, how can you tell if the transmission is having issues? You really need to pay attention to these 10 symptoms to prevent transmission damage from getting worse.
Let's take a look at the transmission symptoms that you can identify to prevent further damage!
1. Engine Slow to Respond
Have you ever pressed the gas pedal, but the engine doesn't respond immediately as expected, instead roaring loudly? If so, that's a mild symptom of a transmission problem.
If the engine roars when the gas pedal is pressed and the response is very delayed or not normal, it means you should start worrying about the transmission and check it carefully. This is likely because the drive plate or clutch plate of your car is very thin if your vehicle uses a manual transmission. If it's an automatic transmission, the performance of the body valve may have weakened.
2. Buzzing Sound from the Transmission System
Initially, the buzzing sound resembles the sound from the engine. However, over time, the sound gets louder with the emergence of a noise similar to blunt objects clashing. Have you ever heard that sound from your beloved vehicle?
If you have, the sound likely comes from several components in the transmission device that are colliding due to their movement being hindered by insufficient transmission oil pressure.
You need to check this carefully because oil is a crucial component for automatic transmissions. Besides acting as a lubricant and coolant, transmission oil also provides pressure during gear shifts.
3. Transmission Fluid Leak
A leak in the transmission fluid is one of the easiest transmission problems to identify. The transmission fluid in an automatic car is vital for gear shifting capabilities, so even a slight leak can cause serious issues.
Good automatic transmission fluid will be bright red, clean, and have a slight oily smell. However, if the transmission oil is dark and smells burnt, you should be suspicious and replace it.
For manual transmissions, checking the transmission fluid is not as simple as opening the hood and pulling the dipstick. You need to open the transmission case directly, which will require assistance from an expert.
4. Car Feels Vibrating
If the car vibrates while driving, especially on a smooth asphalt road, it should raise suspicion. This is because it is certain that the car is experiencing symptoms of a transmission problem.
There are several causes for your car to vibrate. For automatic vehicles, it can occur due to issues with the engine and transmission. Therefore, you should check your beloved car's clutch because it could be starting from a worn clutch that causes the surface to be uneven!
5. Burning Smell
If you suddenly smell burnt oil, it is definitely due to the transmission experiencing overheating, which needs lubrication. The function of lubrication is not only to facilitate the movement of components but also to maintain the temperature stability of those components.
Some vehicles even have a mini radiator for the transmission that cools the lubricant. Generally, the burning smell of the oil indicates that the transmission is overheating due to a decrease in the volume of transmission lubricant, either from a leak or because the lubricant has become dirty.
Wow, that could be dangerous. So, a burning smell when the car is running should definitely raise suspicion, and you need to check it carefully.
6. Difficulty Shifting Gears
If your car has a manual transmission and the gear is difficult to shift, it is certain that the transmission has problems. Usually, the initial diagnosis is due to issues with the connection between the lever and the withdraw lever, or it could be called the clutch fork that is responsible for shifting the gear.
Another diagnosis could be that there are components that are worn out or aged and need to be replaced immediately. Wow, you need to be careful. A quick response can help reduce transmission problems from getting worse.
7. "Check Engine" Light On
The illumination of the check engine light is one of the earliest reminders that there is a malfunction in the transmission system. However, the check engine light can also indicate a malfunction in other components unrelated to the transmission, so when the check engine light comes on, do not immediately blame the transmission.
In newer cars, sensors have been installed throughout the engine that will send information to the computer if there is an error in a specific component. In the case of the transmission, the sensor can detect vibrations and identify problems before the driver feels them.
If you notice changes or oddities as explained above, do not just ignore them. This could worsen the damage, so you should take it to the workshop immediately.
8. Noisy in Neutral Position
Transmission is in neutral, but there is a noisy sound from the engine? Wow, this should not be taken lightly. This is definitely due to worn bearing, especially those located in the input shaft. If this condition occurs, have it checked at the workshop immediately, or it could get worse.
9. Gear Slip
Normally, in the function of the transmission, the car's gear will remain in the position set by the driver, or the computer system will shift the gear itself at a certain RPM range. However, in the case of gear slip, it suddenly changes the gear position on its own, for example, from third gear suddenly shifting to neutral.
This can be very dangerous if you are at high speed and suddenly lose power to the wheels. This can cause the driver to lose control, threatening their safety and that of other drivers. Wow, get it checked immediately because it's clear that the problem lies in the transmission.
10. Sticking Clutch
One of the problems that haunt manual car users is a sticking clutch. A clutch that sticks is due to the failure of the clutch disk to disengage from the flywheel when pressing the clutch pedal.
This condition prevents the driver from shifting gears because the clutch is still engaged in the engine's rotation. If forced, it will definitely make the engine produce a dragging sound and worsen the damage.
The difficulty in shifting the clutch is certainly caused by the clutch being too loose at the clutch pedal. Many clutches are like this, causing the cable or connection between the clutch pedal and the disk not to sufficiently release the clutch disk from the flywheel (or pressure plate).
Impact of Transmission Problems
So, those are the 10 symptoms of transmission problems that you can fix to prevent further damage. But what if we are unaware of these symptoms and the transmission has already malfunctioned?
Usually, if the transmission has problems and is left for a long time, you will feel it when driving the car on an uphill road. The gas pedal will have to be compromised, requiring more effort to make it climb properly.
If it gets to that point, the
