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3 Signs That Your Transmission Is Failing

by Jesus Turner

The transmission of your car is a very important part. Many people fail to pay close attention to the health of the transmission, which can be very dangerous. This is because the transmission is not only important to the functioning of the car, but it is also one of the most expensive things to replace. This is why you should always be checking to make sure that the transmission is working properly and getting repairs if not. Here are a couple things to look for:

1. A Grinding Noise When You Shift

The transmission helps the car shift. This means that as you shift the car back and forth, you should be doing it without any noise. If you hear grinding as you go back and forth between park, reverse, neutral and drive, you can know the transmission is starting to go out.

If you are having a hard time telling if the transmission is making any noise, try putting the car in park and then switching back and forth between reverse and park. This will help you to really listen.

2. Delayed Shifting

Another sign that the car's transmission is nearing the end of its life is if the car delays when it shifts. For example, you might be driving and decide to shift down a gear. If the car takes a while to actually shift for you, this is a sign that the transmission may be close to falling.

Some people have a hard time determining if the transmission is delaying. If this is the case for you, put the car in neutral. Then try shifting around. It will be easier to tell how fast the car shifts if you are putting it back in neutral each time.

3. Leaking Red Fluid

One of the most common signs that you have a problem with your transmission is that the car is leaking a red fluid. As a car ages, it might leak different fluids. Blue is generally the air conditioning coolant, black is engine oil, and red is transmission fluid. If the car is leaking a lot, you need to replace the fluid often. You should check the levels of the fluid and refill as needed. Then if possible talk to a mechanic about replacing the transmission. This may be one of the only ways to fix the leak.

These are just some of the things you need to know about your transmission. 

To learn more about transmission repair, contact a company like American Transmission Center

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