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Not only is a faulty transmission costly to repair, but it’s also dangerous. Slipping gears in a failing transmission can cause your car to suddenly pop into neutral while on the road. If you keep an eye out for the following four major signs of transmission trouble, you’ll be able to have your transmission repaired before the problem worsens. And if you’re in doubt, always visit your local Chevrolet dealer for a professional opinion.
Gear Slippage
Whether you drive an automatic or manual shift, any reduction in the smoothness of your gear changes shouldn’t be ignored. When a gearbox runs into problems, you might start finding it stiff when you try to shift gears. Your gears might suddenly move into neutral on their own, or they might even change to random other gears.
When gears start misbehaving in this way, it often means your transmission is about to break down. So have a technician take a look right away.
Grinding Gears
Before things get so bad as to cause gear slippage, you’re likely to hear strained grinding noises when you shift gears. This usually means your transmission fluid is old and diminished, so the gears are rubbing against each other with insufficient lubrication. Have your fluid flushed and refreshed and see if that solves the problem.
Leaking Transmission Fluid
Transmission fluid is vital to the health of your gearbox. It provides lubrication while also cooling and cleaning out the mechanism. If your transmission springs a fluid leak, your car will rapidly run into trouble.
Look for reddish, sweet-smelling liquid puddling under your car. Transmission fluid can sometimes leak from an overworked fluid pump. It might also leak from one of the seals or lines, or even the transmission pan, if incorrectly installed.
Change Fluid Often At Your Chevrolet Dealer
It’s important to have transmission fluid flushed every six months. Take this job to a trusted technician who will fasten and install everything properly and alert you if they suspect any developing transmission problems.
Clutch Failure
Even your clutch might occasionally develop a flaw. The most common experience of clutch failure is called clutch drag. This is where the clutch fails to disengage properly, leading to a jolting, noisy gear change. The cause of this is often a damaged clutch cable.
Other clutch issues include the flywheel warping out of shape from overheating. The pressure plate, which clamps the flywheel, can also become damaged by overwork or low lubrication. If the friction between these two parts is reduced, they can no longer grip properly, which creates a dangerous disconnect between your engine and the wheels.
Have your clutch, fluid, and gearbox inspected today at Larsen Auto Center. We have an extensive inventory and a team of helpful, knowledgeable professionals on hand.
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