Identifying Auto Service

One of the components in your vehicle that is often overlooked but is critical to its operation is the automatic transmission. If the transmission is not functioning correctly, it is crucial that you take it to an auto transmission repair shop so a tech can diagnose the issue and correct the problem.

Transmission Slipping 

When you put the transmission into drive, the transmission should go right into gear and deal as though it wants to move immediately. If you have to push the gas pedal and the car starts to move slowly, but the movement is not crisp, it may be slipping. 

Slipping in the transmission is often the result of worn clutch bands inside the transmission or a lack of hydraulic pressure that can be caused by the filter being clogged with clutch material. The transmission filter is located in the oil pan and picks up the hydraulic oil for the system, but because it is so low in the transmission, it can also pick up debris from the bottom of the pan and block areas of the filter. 

When the transmission is slipping, the auto transmission repair shop technician will often start by checking the filter, cleaning the oil pan, flushing the transmission hydraulic lines, and replacing the transmission oil. Once the system is clean and the filter and oil changed, the transmission should shift smoothly, but with a crisp and definitive change in the gear.

Leaking Oil

A leaking transmission needs to be checked at your local auto transmission repair shop right away. Leaking transmissions can quickly turn into transmissions without enough oil in them to operate correctly, and the low oil level can cause damage inside the transmission. The transmission oil is critical to the system, and using the right oil is also vital so if you need to add oil to the system, make sure you only use the transmission oil recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.

A leak from the oil pan or tail shaft seal is easy to fix, but if it is not repaired, the low oil level inside the transmission can cause bearing wear, clutch band wear, and can contribute to the transmission overheating. Excessive heat inside the transmission will compound the problems with bearing and other parts getting too hot to operate correctly, and eventually, they will fail, causing a catastrophic failure of the entire transmission assemble. 

If you notice a transmission leak under your vehicle, take it to an auto transmission repair shop and have them look things over. The tech will be able to determine the condition of the transmission pretty quickly and let you know if they will need to disassemble the transmission to diagnose the problem with it further.