Transmission issues begin small and are often identified as simple ‘wear and tear’ issues by the driver. In reality, they are indications that the transmission needs attention. Here are some key issues to identify early on that may be related to the transmission.

 

Minor vs major transmission issues

 

Some of the more obvious indicators, like a ‘check engine’ light coming on or a burning smell coming from the hood, are attributed to transmission fault. Similarly, unsteady gear shifts or grinding noises on turns can be very clear indications that there’s a serious problem. 

 

Heat in the vehicle significantly rising also is an indication the transmission has failed and the driver is not simply having air conditioning issues. If the car isn’t moving, or driving at a very moderate pace, shaking accompanied by strange noises are indications of the same issue.

 

What are my transmission options?

 

This is answered by our first inquiry: were the issues caught early on or attended too far after they became prevalent? If caught early, coming in for a service is a quick option to get your transmission attended to, while later stages of the issues could lead to a ‘re-manufacturing’ via a transmission replacement.

 

Replacement is far more pricey than getting it checked out for issues that have luckily remained minor, which can contribute heavily to the lifetime of the car.

 

A transmission can have a complete failure under 100,000 miles, but with significant attention and care for the vehicle, this should extend the vehicle’s lifetime by at least another 100,000 miles. 

 

What are the next steps?

 

Coming in for an inspection of the vehicle is a great first step to treating the issues that may be present in your transmission, as well as attending to some other lingering issues that may be pressuring the vehicle. Driving with a sense of safety leads to less distracted driving, complete focus on the road rather than the vehicle, and better attention to the driver’s surroundings.