5 Signs Your Car Isn't Shifting Correctly

Improper shifting is a sign of car transmission problems. The solution might be simple or complex, but get it inspected to avoid expensive repairs.

If your car is not shifting properly, you could end up with very expensive transmission repairs. So, how do you know if your car isn’t shifting the way it should? Watch for these signs to avoid serious transmission trouble.

Warning light comes on: A warning light alone doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a shifting problem, but if you notice it along with any of the symptoms that follow, you should get it checked out.

Car is shifting hard: The car feels as if it’s reluctant to shift gears the way it usually does, or isn’t shifting smoothly. You might notice a clunking or thudding sound when the car shifts gears, or has difficulty reaching the proper speed.

Gear changes for no reason: If you’re driving a manual transmission in a certain gear, and the car suddenly changes gear with no action on your part, or if it suddenly slides into neutral in an automatic, you have a shifting problem. You might notice a whining sound or a change in the usual sound from your engine when this happens.

Fluid leak: If you’re having trouble shifting, it could be something as simple as a transmission fluid leak. Usually, transmission fluid shouldn’t leak, and if you see a puddle of fluid under your car, that can be a sign of a clogged filter or a loose plug. Transmission fluid is clear red, and has a slightly sweet smell.

Delayed engagement: Your car waits for a bit before going into drive and moving forward. You’ve pushed the clutch pedal down, brought it up to the point where the gears should engage and move your car forward, but there’s a pause before the vehicle moves. Even if you rev the engine, there’s still a delay.

Any indication that your car is not shifting properly should be dealt with immediately. You might have a simple issue that can be repaired inexpensively, but if you wait too long you could end up with serious transmission trouble and have to pay to repair or even replace your transmission. Be sure to contact a mechanic to check your transmission fluid and other parts of the transmission system as soon as you experience any shifting problems.

5 Causes of Automatic Transmission Fluid Leaks

If there is a leak of red transmission fluid that occurs underneath your vehicle, this is never a good sign. It will form stains on your garage floor but more importantly, it will cost you lots of money in repairing the leak and replacing the fluid.

The Top 5 Causes of Automatic Transmission Fluid Leaks
Your transmission may leak because of minor issues or critical issues. Despite which kind of issue that it is, you should never let a leaky transmission wait. Get it checked right away. If you wait to get a simple repair done, the problem will get much worse and cost you more money to fix. Below are the 5 main causes of automatic transmission fluid leaks.

1) Oil Pan & Drain Plug
There will eventually be wear and tear of your transmission pan. If the pan gets a small puncture or there are loose drain plugs or bolts, then a leak can occur. While on the road driving, the pan of your transmission could get damaged from all the loose rocks and debris on the road. If a big rock or other object were to damage the pan, the transmission will lose fluid quickly. You will know right away when this is happening. On the other hand, a small hole or puncture will take longer for you to notice. If your drain plugs or bolts are not tightened enough, they could cause a leak too. You can do this after you change the fluid.

2) Fluid Line is Cracked
The fluid line of a transmission is constructed of either steel or aluminum. This line is extremely durable but if it gets damaged with debris or exposed to heat too often, then the line will break or crack in time.

3) Seals are Broken
An automatic transmission sustains hydraulic pressure by using lots of transmission seals. However, over time, these seals will crack and get worn out, especially when being exposed to heat often. If you get a transmission leak from this, there are many areas of the transmission to check. You could inspect the pan gasket, plug seals, sensors, shifter housing seal, input shaft seal, output shaft seal, tail housing seal, and speedometer input seal.

4) Torque Converter Leakage
Transmission fluid is propelled into the whole system by the torque pump. If this torque pump has a crack anywhere on its body, it will leak transmission fluid.

5) Oil Pan Gasket Fails
Oil pan gaskets can be damaged or cracked due to poor manufacturing or constant exposure to hot temperatures. The oil pan gasket is cheap to replace so do it right away. Otherwise, more serious problems will occur.

The Method for Inspection
The auto mechanic will observe where the transmission fluid leak is coming from. They will be able to tell the location based on the dripping of this fluid. Most of the time, the transmission fluid will go down a path that has the least resistance to it. If the leak is caused by a part that is loose, this part will get tightened by the mechanic. If the part is damaged or cracked, then it will be replaced. Before any of this work is done though, the mechanic will give you an estimate on how much this will all cost to perform.