How to prevent a transmission failure?

Your vehicle’s transmission is the key to its mobility and plays an important role in the overall functioning of the car. When you see signs of an issue with your transmission, you must get immediate attention from an expert technician before it leads to serious damage and affects other parts of the vehicle.

Here are some tips to make sure you avoid transmission failures and prevent serious mechanical issues in the transmission system.

• Check fluid regularly: You should check the fluid level, color, and smell in the system. Transmission fluid keeps the gears lubricated and prevents them from grinding. If the fluid levels are low, there will be grinding in the components and it can cause damage. You can get the engine to warm up and then check the dipstick to know the level of fluid and its color. Make sure you check your owner’s manual to know the right type of fluid for your vehicle. 

• Switch Gears Properly: Your transmission is a delicate system and to keep it running and functioning properly, you must shift gears properly. Sometimes drivers skip 2nd gear and move to 3rd directly, or shift to park while still in motion are some instances where you need to be more cautious. This could lead to unnecessary wear and tears on your gears. 

• Parking brake: When you are putting your vehicle in park, engage the parking brake, specifically when you are on an incline. The parking brake will make sure the vehicle remains steady. The pawl mostly helps to keep the vehicle from rolling, but you need to use the parking brake for the pawl to function better. 

• Avoid overheating: One of the most common reasons for transmission failure is overheating. It often results in damaged gears, slipping bands, ruptured seals, and bearings. To make sure your transmission doesn’t overheat, you must periodically check for leaks and top the fluid levels as recommended by the manufacturer.

• Warm-up: You should allow your vehicle to warm up in the mornings especially on days with low temperatures for about a minute or two. This will help the transmission fluid and oil to flow through the gears and prepare them to start the ride. This helps to lubricate all the components in the system and prevent them from grinding against each other. 

• Transmission check-ups: You must get your transmission serviced regularly to avoid a powertrain repair. When your transmission is serviced, the fluid is drained and replaced with fresh fluid. This helps in getting rid of all the grime and debris that build up in the system. This ensures the parts inside the transmission are free from contaminants that could affect their smooth functioning. 

It’s important to notice signs of an issue and get an expert technician to check your vehicle’s transmission immediately. With basic signs such as smell or hearing noises, you can easily identify if something is wrong with your vehicle. So, when you hear strange noises or sense an odor, let our team at Wilf’s Transmission examine your vehicle’s transmission to see what can be done to fix the problem.