1. Making Noise When Shifting

If your transmission is making noise when shifting, it’s important to determine the type of sound to begin properly diagnosing the issue. Does the sound resemble humming, buzzing, whining, or clunking? These are most commonly used to describe transmission failure noises. With thousands of parts in a transmission, a single bearing or even a worn case can emit a troubling noise. Unfortunately, these noises are more than just annoying. They ultimately lead to transmission failure. Often, bad automatic transmissions will emit humming, buzzing, or whining sounds. Also, a grinding noise when changing gears is a sure sign of internal problems and should never be ignored.

When metal begins to grind on metal, catastrophic failure is close behind. Pay attention to the sound of your transmission in neutral. Does your transmission “bump” or quake? Some noises, such as a “bump,” require adding or changing the automatic transmission fluid or some other simple fix. Other times, however, a more serious issue is at hand. Many Chrysler vehicles, including Dodge and Jeep brands, require fluid inspection in neutral.

2. Car Slipping Gears

Transmission slipping usually takes two forms: erratic shifting between gears and underperforming acceleration. Slipping gears is fairly common and easy to identify. For example, have you ever been cruising along when, out of the blue, your vehicle unexpectedly changes gears? If you answered “Yes,” you have experienced gear slipping. Underperforming acceleration is another example of gear slipping. When your car struggles to accelerate or feels weak and underpowered, the gears inside the transmission are not shifting properly, and thus are slipping.

Many modern transmissions will prevent a driver from driving with a damaged transmission by going into “limp mode” or “safe mode.” Under this circumstance, the computer system will detect a problem with the transmission and default to one gear. The vehicle will not shift between gears and will only operate in one gear, often 3rd gear, as a safety mechanism to allow the driver to get the vehicle in for repair immediately. Replacing the transmission fluid is often a quick transmission slipping fix.

3. Difficulty Shifting Gears

If shifting seems to take longer than normal or your vehicle seems to struggle to shift smoothly, you should see a mechanic. Remember, shifting gears should be virtually unnoticeable in newer vehicles under normal throttle. In an older vehicle, feeling a slight difficulty shifting gears is okay. However, any dramatic shift could indicate a problem is present.

If you find yourself wondering why the RPMs keep rising without getting to the next gear, that’s another indication that the internal clutches of the transmission are worn and the transmission cannot engage the gear commanded by the computer system. Observing any single symptom is not sufficient to diagnose the issue. In some cases, a hard shift could be inaccurately diagnosed as a transmission failure when, in fact, an engine or transmission mount has failed. In this example, the engine jolts back and forth when the vehicle shifts gears, and the RPMs simultaneously drop or rise. Don’t waste thousands of dollars because of a misdiagnosis; trust the specialists at your local transmission shop!

4. Odd Scents & Strange Smells

Burning odors usually mean your transmission fluid is overheating due to clutch debris, breakdown of metallic components, and sludge. If your transmission fluid has not been flushed or serviced on a vehicle with over 100,000 miles, this is a common outcome. How will you know what burnt transmission fluid smells like? When Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) burns, it omits a uniquely acrid smell, closer to the stench of burning rubber than burning oil. If the transmission fluid gets extremely hot, you may even observe smoke. Once the fluid is burnt, it can no longer perform its job of managing heat, lubricating parts, and hydraulically shifting gears.

5. Check Engine Light On

The transmission light on a car can indicate overheating problems caused by worn parts or low fluid levels. Beyond the possibility of transmission issues, your vehicle’s Check Engine Light is designed as an incredible early indication of a problem. Do not ignore this warning sign, and do not assume that the warning light came on for no reason. The service light on your dashboard responds to sensors placed at crucial points inside the vehicle. These sensors detect unusual data readings that you may not detect while driving. Don’t wait for your vehicle to begin grinding and trembling; if the Check Engine Light turns on, it is best to take your vehicle to a repair shop you trust for an accurate diagnosis right away. In some cases, a diagnostic code could point to a minor repair that prevents a major (and costly) repair.

For example, a P0944 Loss of Prime or Hydraulic Pressure Unit Loss of Pressure could be resolved by adding more fluid and potentially addressing a leak. If not addressed immediately, a low fluid condition can lead to overheating and internal damage. In other circumstances, a diagnostic code tells a technician a major repair (e.g., transmission rebuild or replacement) is required. A P0730 Gear Ratio Incorrect code may point to irreparable internal damage that requires a transmission replacement or rebuild/overhaul.

6. Leaking Fluid

Leaking fluid is recognizable and easy to diagnose. Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) is among the most complex fluids in a vehicle and gives life to the transmission. ATF lubricates transmission components to decrease friction and prevent overheating. It also functions as a hydraulic fluid, allowing gear engagement. If ATF begins to leak, the transmission will operate with low fluid, leading to an increased chance of overheating. This is the quickest way for a transmission to break down. If you see a pool of bright red fluid beneath your vehicle, take it to a transmission shop immediately.

Take note: if the fluid is dark brown or black and emits a seared odor, the fluid may be burnt. If this is the case, no minor repair or maintenance procedure can fix the internal failure already present. On the other hand, if the issue is simply a compromised transmission pan gasket, a transmission power flush, and pan/gasket repair can fix the problem for a few hundred bucks rather than a few thousand dollars!

1. In-House Rebuild

A rebuilt transmission can go by other names, such as refurbished or reconditioned. What it means is a transmission that is fully disassembled with all parts cleaned and inspected for wear. Those that are worn or damaged are replaced. The transmission is then put back together, filled with fluid, and reinstalled. In some cases, the transmission may require special reprogramming so that the onboard computer can communicate properly with the new transmission. A benefit to rebuilding a transmission is the availability of new or updated components that can be installed. This can fix weak areas and known problems, making them less likely to fail again.

Unfortunately, there is no way to visually confirm if a shop did a good job or not since the transmission’s interior parts are all enclosed. This is why it’s important to choose a shop like Advanced Transmission Center that can be trusted to do a thorough, honest repair at fair prices. Many shops often advertise themselves as “affordable” or “budget,” yet these gimmicks often leave customers with an unreliable “spot repair” and a vehicle breakdown around the corner.

A quality transmission shop has its own in-house rebuild department. By doing all the work ourselves, we control the quality of the rebuild and repair of every transmission, transfer case, and differential that leaves our shops. We make sure that only the highest quality parts are used. Customers should definitely research before choosing a shop to rebuild their transmission.

For decades, this was the preferred option for vehicle owners who expected a transmission rebuild every 50,000 miles on vehicles produced in the 1960s and 1970s. A transmission rebuild was viewed as a maintenance activity every few years rather than a catastrophic stroke of bad luck, the perspective of most customers walking into a local transmission shop these days.

2. Remanufactured Unit

A remanufactured transmission is essentially the same as a rebuilt transmission but is usually done in a factory by a team of specialists who each have a specific job similar to an assembly line. For instance, one might pull it apart and drain the fluid. The next might clean all the components, while the third checks them all for wear or damage down the line until it is reassembled and sold to a retail outlet. In some cases, the “specialist” may only build one model of transmission from beginning to end; this often leaves the specialist lacking the diagnostic capabilities and perspective necessary to be an elite transmission repair specialist.

The quality of a remanufactured transmission varies greatly between brands and even within a factory, where dozens of rebuilders are likely to have differing levels of expertise. These factors reinforce our view that a locally rebuilt transmission by a team you can directly engage with is your best option. In some circumstances, a remanufactured unit could be a viable option. This reality encouraged Advanced Transmission Center to team up with Certified Transmissions to provide the occasional remanufactured transmission to customers.

3. Spot Repair

A “spot repair” is a situation where the transmission is disassembled in order to find one or two broken or worn-out parts that have failed. Thereafter, those parts are replaced, and the unit is put back together. While this is certainly less expensive than having a full rebuild done, it also creates several potential problems in the not-so-distant future. A transmission is a tremendously complicated system of parts working together, and they don’t wear out independently.

Additionally, when one part fails, it has a cascading effect on the rest of the system. That means that while you might have saved money by having a spot repair done, there is a very good chance that other parts are going to fail soon. As a result, you will have to pay to have the transmission pulled and repaired again. It won’t take long for you to have paid significantly more for repairs than you would have if you had the transmission rebuilt properly the first time.

Sometimes, saving money right now will end up being far more expensive in the long run! Examples of this type of repair should be replacing a torque converter or swapping out a valve body. In the rarest of circumstances, this could make sense, but most of the time a disaster is down the road. Many cheap transmission shops lure their customers in with low prices because they invest very little in the rebuild; these are the shops to avoid because they often avoid warranty claims.

4. Used Unit

A used transmission can be another option that at first appears to offer decent cost savings. This involves buying a transmission out of an older car, most often through a junk or salvage yard. Usually, they come with a very limited warranty, such as a few months or a few thousand miles, whichever comes first. Most used transmission warranties do not cover labor. When you get a transmission from a junkyard, it’s really hard to know what you are getting. You don’t know the history of the vehicle it is coming out of or how that vehicle was maintained. You risk having it fail and going through the whole process again. Even if it fails while under warranty, you are probably going to have to pay the labor cost AGAIN to remove and replace the transmission. If it is out of warranty after a short period of time, you are now right back where you started and have paid a considerable sum to only get a few months of driving after the repair.

Transmission specialists will often install a used unit for budget-constrained customers, but the customer risks having to pay multiple times for the removal and installation of potentially bad, used transmissions. Again, it won’t take long before you will have spent far more than it would have cost to have it properly rebuilt the first time. Many unethical general automotive and transmission shops will install a used transmission but tell a customer they are buying a rebuild. Sadly, customers often won’t know the difference and risk being taken advantage of. This is why working with a trusted transmission repair brand is so important.