Bad Vehicle Transmission? Symptoms of Transmission Problems Every Car Owner Should Know

How to take care of your car's transmission? The transmission system of a car is that component as important as the engine and it is that it transfers or transmits the necessary force from the crankshaft to the wheels, thus achieving forward or backward

There are different types of transmissions such as manual, cvt , sequential , automatic, etc. These are designed to provide better fuel efficiency and maintain engine integrity.

Many times we make mistakes that ultimately affect the useful life of the gearbox. If we are not careful and we are not attentive, these errors will be expressed in high repair costs, for this reason we will give you 10 tips to take care of the manual transmission of your vehicle.

Smooth speed changes

Transmission wear and failures occur when changing gears. While it is true that driving in the city is a torment, it does not mean that we take it out on the gear lever. A smooth and precise gear change will significantly reduce stress and failure in the transmission in the short and long term. Remember that when changing gear we must rest the lever for at least a very short period of time (in milliseconds) in neutral.

Clutch pedal down

The clutch pedal is necessary in all manual transmission systems as it allows you to switch between the axles of each speed level.

Every time we make a change we have to press the pedal to its stop (bottom) then we proceed to make the change and finally release the clutch pedal gently, this way we avoid mistreating the manual transmission and we will ensure that the clutch disc has less wear .

Do not rest your hand on the gear lever

It is a bad habit that we must remove from our routine because under the lever is the gear selector. When supporting our hand we generate a small pressure between the selector against the gear, although several times this is imperceptible, it will generate wear, a possible breakage of teeth and a failure in the bearings. Remember to only use the gear lever when changing gear.

Don't keep your foot on the clutch after shifting

Like the gear lever, the clutch pedal pressed without changing speed will cause wear and generate heat in vain between the components of our gearbox. Rest your foot off the pedal.

Do not leave instead with the car off

We have been doing it many times, we park our car and leave it with one of the gears engaged, but what happens internally is that we wear out the mechanism since we constantly have one of the gears pressed. It is another imperceptible error that we comment on, it is advisable to activate the handbrake.

Avoid using your vehicle as a trailer

The engine, gearbox, brakes and all components were designed to support the weight of your car with an acceptable differential, towing another car that is mostly around 1 to 2 tons will cause the transmission fluid rust or "burn" quickly causing damage to the transmission and not forgetting that your engine suffers from overheating of its components. Calling a towing service will prevent the gearbox from straining unnecessarily. Your car and your pocket will thank you

Periodically perform maintenance on your transmission

The failures in the transmission boxes start small, many times we do not pay attention to them or ignore them, but with the passage of time it gets worse becoming a headache. It is possible to avoid these major repairs if we pay attention to the small symptoms that occur when using our gearbox, no matter how minor it is, it is important to repair it in the workshop we trust.

Carry out general maintenance in a suitable workshop

One of the most important tips to keep our transmission at full throttle is that the repair/maintenance service, whether it be the oil change or the replacement of the engine fluid, is carried out in a suitable place with all the necessary tools and that the personnel is trained. . This will extend the life of our car.

Many times we make the mistake of taking our car to the cheapest workshop which "solves one problem, but another appears" and sometimes they even put the car in the car, remember that cheap is expensive.

Engine inspection and cleaning

The engine is the heart and central axis of your car. This is where mechanical energy is obtained from chemistry by the combustion or explosion process, making the wheels of our car turn and move.

Forgetting or skipping the engine overhaul will dull performance over time.

If your motor is dirty, it is advisable to wash it with pressurized water, trying not to wet the electrical parts. Put plastic protectors on these areas, that will help you a lot. Remember the engine and transmission work hand in hand. Every morning always check under your car, looking for possible fluid leaks.

An engine with problems or poor maintenance will cause our gearbox to overheat or make unnecessary efforts and consequently present failures.
 

Check oil level and change

The oil contains viscosity and oxidation properties that are lost over time and with the use of the vehicle. A well-lubricated gearbox will facilitate less gear wear or friction when changing gears. Change your transmission oil at least once a year, this will give you many years of life and save you money. If you smell burning oil, it is very likely that the transmission is overheating due to low oil level, dirt in the transmission, or an incompatible oil.

We recommend that you review the manufacturer's technical specifications, in some vehicles it is recommended to change the oil every 25,000 kilometers.

Remember to use a quality lubricant that is recommended by your car specialist.

We have to change our habits both when using the gear lever and the clutch pedal, our foot and our hand have to rest outside of these. Pay close attention to the small signs of our car to prevent possible major failures. Frequent maintenance and cleaning of the engine and transmission will help put less stress on your car. Do not force your vehicle in vain by overloading it or doing the towing service, we do not want your car to break down or be divided in two. Don't take it out on the transmission by being in vehicular chaos, be patient, take a deep breath and be gentle with the shifter.

Remember the transmission box is one of the most important components of the car, but at the same time it is susceptible to damage due to misuse, we hope that with these tips your car will have a long useful life without complications and without spending too much money in the workshop of repairs.

10 Symptoms of Car Transmission Trouble

All motorized vehicles, both cars and motorcycles, have transmissions. This part is very important, because the transmission functions to distribute the power generated by the engine to the wheels.

There are two types of transmission, namely manual and automatic. The manual transmission itself uses the clutch pedal, while the automatic transmission operates thanks to the help of three important components, namely the torque converter, planetary gear unit, and hydraulic control unit.

Now, talking about the transmission, this part is the same as other car components, it can experience problems, even if it is damaged the costs incurred can be quite high.

However, before the transmission experiences serious problems, there are several signs or characteristics, and those signs can be a reference for making repairs early on so that the damage becomes severe.

Here are 10 symptoms of car transmission damage:

1. Late Response

Have you ever experienced when you step on the gas pedal the engine roars, but the vehicle is slowing down abnormally? If you have, the chances of your car's drive plate or clutch plate are very slim. Especially in the automatic transmission, it is possible that the performance of the valve body is weak.

2. Buzzing Sound from Transmission System

At first, the buzzing sound was similar to the sound of an engine. However, over time the sound grew louder with the appearance of a sound similar to the knocking of blunt objects colliding.

The sound comes from several components in the transmission device that collide with each other because the movement mechanism is hampered due to the lack of strong transmission oil push. Oil is an important component for automatic transmissions. Apart from being a lubricant and coolant, transmission oil also provides pressure when changing gears.

3. Transmission Fluid Leak

Leaking transmission fluid is arguably the easiest transmission problem to identify. Automatic car transmission fluid is vital for gear exchange capabilities, so the slightest transmission leak on an automatic car can cause serious problems.

The color of automatic car transmission fluid is bright red, clean, and has a slightly sweet smell (a characteristic of a good transmission lubricant). The characteristics of the transmission oil that must be replaced immediately are dark in color and smell of burning. For manual transmissions, checking the transmission fluid is not as easy as opening the hood and pulling the dipstick. But you have to open the transmission box directly, because it will require the help of an expert.

10 Signs of a Failing Transmission

4. Car Feels Vibrating

There are several causes for a car to vibrate, for automatic vehicles it can occur due to engine and transmission problems. Check the car on the clutch lining because it could start from the car clutch lining that has started to wear out, causing the clutch lining to be uneven.

5. Burning Smell

If you suddenly smell burning oil, it is certain that the smell will not be similar to the sweet martabak placed in the middle of the cabin. This is because the transmission is overheating so it must be lubricated.

Basically, the function of the lubricant is not only to help smooth the movement of the components, but also to maintain the temperature stability of the components being melted. Some vehicles even have a mini-radiator for the transmission whose job it is to cool the lubricant. Generally, what causes the smell of burning lubricating oil, a sign that the transmission is overheating, is the reduced volume of the transmission lubricant, either because it is leaking or the lubricant has turned dirty.

6. Difficult to change gear

This condition is common in manual transmissions. Instantly it was difficult to move the gear from neutral to 1st gear. The initial diagnosis was that there was a problem with the lever connecting the lever with the withdraw lever or it could be called the clutch fork which is in charge of moving the gear.

The connecting means can be in the form of a clutch strap for old cars or a clutch master in new cars. Another diagnosis could be that the components are worn or worn by age and must be replaced immediately.

7. Turn on the "Check Engine" Light

Turning on the check engine light is considered the earliest reminder if there is damage to the transmission work system. It's just that the check engine light can be a sign of damage to other components that are not related to the transmission.

Therefore, when the check engine light is on, do not immediately accuse the transmission of being the culprit. In the latest cars, sensors are installed on all parts of the engine that will send information to the computer if an error occurs in a certain component.

In the case of the transmission, the sensors can recognize vibrations and identify the problem before the driver perceives it. If you feel the change or strangeness, don't let it go before the damage gets worse.

8. Noise in Neutral Position

Of course disturbed by the whispering voice that enters the cabin when the transmission is in neutral. This noise can be caused by worn bearings, especially those on the input shaft. If this condition occurs, immediately check the repair shop.

9. Gear Slip

Normally in the transmission function, the car's gear will remain in the position set by the driver or the computer system will move its own gear at a certain RPM range. But in the case of a slip gear, suddenly the gear position changes automatically, for example from the previous third gear suddenly shifts to neutral (in manual cars). This will be very dangerous if you are at high speed and suddenly lose power in the wheels. Because you can lose control. Immediately checked because it is clear the problem is in the transmission.

10. Drag Clutch

One of the problems that haunt manual car users is a clutch that drags. Clutch drag due to failure to detach the clutch disc from the flywheel when stepping on the clutch pedal. This condition causes the driver to be unable to shift gears because the clutch is still involved in engine rotation. If you force it, it will only make a dragging sound like a milling machine. The cause of the clutch drag is too loose the clutch pedal. Many clutches are empty causing the cable or connection between the clutch pedal and the disc to not sufficiently disengage the clutch disc from the flywheel (or pressure plate).