The transmission is a critical component of overall vehicle operation and without it you would not be able to drive your car. A transmission allows you to move your vehicle forwards and backwards at different speeds. For car owners, transmission failure can be a complete nightmare, costing thousands of dollars to fix or replace. Nobody knows when or where a transmission will fail, so there is another inconvenience of possibly being stranded in the middle of nowhere or on your way to an important function. Although transmission failure is not something any car owner wants to hear about, there are warning signs that may indicate your vehicle is having some kind of transmission problems. Remember, even if your vehicle is experiencing one or more of these warning signs, it does not necessarily mean it is the transmission. Symptoms of a bad transmission overlap with numerous other common vehicle problems, so it is always best to take your vehicle in to have it inspected before just jumping to any irrational conclusion. Bringing your vehicle in for an evaluation and possibly catching a minor problem before it becomes a major issues, might save you thousands of dollars. All that said, below are some of the more common symptoms of a bad transmission:
Leaky Fluid-transmissions require fluid in order to function and are the lifeblood of the transmission, serving to keep the internal parts cool and lubricated. One warning sign of a bad transmission is when your vehicle begins to leak transmission fluid. If you park on a white surface, such as a concrete driveway or in a garage, you will be able to tell if you have such fluid leakage. If you park on a dirt or grass surface you will need to place a white cloth or blanket underneath the hood part of your car to find such leakage. If you notice any pinkish fluid leaking out, then you will know that it is from the transmission. Also any very dark or burned looking fluid is another sign that the transmission may be having a problem since optimal color should be a dark or cherry red. Any fluids leaking from your vehicle are cause for concern and warrant taking your vehicle to get transmission repair at as soon as possible.
Slipping-another warning sign is transmission gear slippage. This is usually one of the more common signs of transmission failure. You will know if there is a slippage problem if you try to accelerate from a stopped position. Vehicles with normal functioning transmissions allow for a smooth acceleration without hesitation, however a vehicle that may be experiencing a transmission problem would slow down this acceleration process and at the same time your vehicle's RPM spikes up. A jerking motion when putting the vehicle in gear or accelerating from a stand still would be a sign of gear slippage as well.
Surging-when driving your car at steady speeds, you should never notice any type of jerking movements. Bad transmissions usually cause vehicles to surge or lurch ahead. You might hear the RPM