Noticing a jerky ride lately? If your car is having trouble shifting gears, it’s a good indicator that you need a transmission repair. There are a number of specific underlying problems it could be and a mechanic is best able to accurately diagnose which you’re dealing with. However, we’ll take a look here at some possibilities so that you know what you may be getting into when you take your car to an auto shop.
The simplest explanation is that you have dirty and over-contaminated transmission fluid. Over time, your transmission fluid picks up dirt and contaminants from the environment, as well as from the moving metal parts inside your transmission. While this is totally natural and to be expected, it also means that you should regularly have fresh transmission fluid put into your car to help keep your transmission healthy.
The best way to prevent this from happening? Follow your manufacturer’s recommended schedule for transmission fluid flushes or changes. Take a look at your owner’s manual or consult your mechanic about this timeframe and try not to procrastinate too much when the time comes to schedule your next maintenance service. Not only can it cause drivability problems, but it can also lead to transmission damage, meaning a bigger repair.
Your transmission is a closed system, meaning whatever transmission fluid is in your transmission should stay there. However, just like with your engine oil, a leak can occur. And just like with your engine, having too little fluid can lead to serious damage and overheating. In the case of a transmission fluid leak, you may also notice difficulty with shifting gears.
Whenever your transmission fluid level gets too low, it also means the parts in your transmission aren’t being properly lubricated. This can cause extra wear and damage to those working parts, as well as possibly causing overheating due to the extra friction. If caught early enough, the hardest part for your mechanic will be to find the source of the leak.
These days, cars rely on a system of sensors that use data to tell other parts of your car what to do. This includes speed sensors that tell your transmission how and when to change gears. If your speed sensor is sending incorrect data, it can lead to hard shifting and other drivability problems.
Fortunately, this is a relatively simple car repair. Your mechanic will be able to check your speed sensor and either make adjustments to get it operating correctly again or simply replace it with a new sensor. Either way, taking care of this quickly shouldn’t cost you much time or money and can save you from bigger problems down the road – and make your driving experience much more enjoyable again.
This is often the first transmission repair that pops into people’s heads when there’s difficulty changing gears – and rightly so. It’s possible that you need a clutch repair due to one or more parts of your clutch wearing out. A worn clutch can also show up as a soft clutch pedal or burning smell while driving, so keep an eye out for those symptoms as well.
If you drive a car and own the same one for a long time, you’re bound to run into a worn clutch eventually. It’s simply a fact of life for cars. However, once you start to notice symptoms from your car that indicate a worn clutch or any other transmission problem, it’s best to have a mechanic take a look sooner rather than later to prevent more serious damage.
Depending on the mechanics of your car, you may have a shifter cable that connects the shifter handle to the transmission. Over time, like any other part of your car, it will gradually wear out and eventually break if not replaced in time. Once this happens, you’ll likely start to notice hard shifting.
Simply put, if your shifter cable is stretched or broken, the indicator needle won’t line up correctly with the gear you choose or need to be in. This will make it difficult to shift into the gear you need and can cause hard shifting.
Whether you’re noticing hard shifting, a slipping transmission, or any other necessary transmission repair , trust the transmission experts at AAMCO Utah. No matter what symptoms you’re noticing, our mechanics are able to accurately diagnose and repair any car problem you have.
The post 5 Common Reasons Why Your Car is Shifting Hard first appeared on AAMCO Utah Transmission Repair and General Car Repair.
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