Warning Signs of a Failing Transmission

At Zarin Truck & Automotive in South Heights, PA, our goal is to keep your car, truck, or SUV on the road. The best way to prevent a huge problem is to pay attention to the small ones and get issues taken care of before they leave you stranded. As you know, small problems can lead to big problems and if you're not careful you could miss the signs and your transmission could fail you. 

Why Is My Transmission Slipping? - Transmissions slip for a variety of reasons - low fluid, dirty filters, electronic issues, burnt clutch discs, cross leaking, and pressure issues are a few of those. A slipping transmission is never a good thing - sometimes it’s an easy fix, but slipping between gears or while driving or accelerating will quickly destroy a transmission in most cases. If your fluid is at the correct level and the issue isn’t being caused by an external electrical issue, it’s a sign that your transmission might be failing. Don’t wait until it leaves you stranded to get it fixed - not only is that an inconvenience, but failed transmissions will occasionally damage engines, differentials, and other components as well.

How Should Transmission Fluid Look? - Transmission fluid should typically be reddish in color and clean. Cloudy or dirty fluid indicates a deeper problem and signals a transmission that is on its way out. A transmission that has failed will often contaminate and “burn” the fluid - there’s a distinctive unpleasant smell that comes from burnt transmission fluid, and it’s a point at which the only option is replacing or rebuilding the unit. Much like engine oil, the condition of your transmission fluid will tell a trained technician everything they need to know about the condition of your transmission.

What Causes a Vehicle to Stall? - Stalling is often one of the first signs that a transmission is on its way out. If the transmission doesn’t engage almost immediately when you put the vehicle in drive or reverse, there’s an issue somewhere in the transmission. In the beginning, the vehicle may only stall on cold mornings the first time it is driven that day. As it progresses, it will begin to do that every time, and you may even have to rev the engine to get the transmission to engage. Don’t let the conditions get worse - it only damages more parts as it progresses.

No matter your transmission maintenance or repair needs, our experienced technicians have you covered. For the best transmission service shop in South Heights, PA, call or stop by Zarin Truck & Automotive today.

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Thank you for visiting Zarin Truck & Automotive in South Heights, PA. Count on our automotive repair technicians to keep your car, truck, suv, or van on the roads longer and safer.

Schedule your appointment today (724) 375-7500.