4 Common Gearbox Problems You Might Need to Repair

A car’s transmission is a very complex mechanical system.

It controls the application of power from the engine to the driveshaft. Over time, it is bound to suffer some wear and tear, more so than most other parts of your vehicle as a result of the heat and friction produced by the variety of moving components.

It fairs well to know common types of transmission problems you may encounter so you can easily identify them and get them fixed.

Below, we’ve compiled a list of 4 symptoms of transmission issues and the signs you should be keeping your eyes peeled for.

Slow responses

As the driver shifts from park to drive, the car should immediately into proper gear. For any automatic transmissions, it is possible that the driver will notice when shifting into drive or park that there is a sort of delay prior to feeling the gear engage. Often, this is a transmission-based concern.

Manual transmissions can have the same lacking response issue, but after shifting into gear the engine’s RPMs will surge, but the car may not move as fast as the engine will sound like it’s going. This often indicates the clutch needing to be replaced.

Whining sounds

It’s hard to call what the sound of your car when there is trouble with your transmission, however, you will notice it. The sounds that are produced will vary widely between different makes and models, but it is comparable to buzzing, whining or humming noise.

Leaking fluid

The most identifiable symptom is a leakage, something which should be repaired as soon as possible. Allowing fluids to leak is one fo the most common causes for transmissions to break down.

Automatic transition fluid (ATF) is, essentially, the lifeblood of a transmission as it cleans, lubricates and conditions the seals, along with acting like a hydraulic fluid. Without the ATF, the engine will stop working completely.

Grinding or shaking

A car should be running smoothly and be without shaking movements and grinding sounds. If you do encounter these issues, it could be an indicator that there is a problem with the gears.

Manual transmissions will commonly indicate problems by making a grinding noise or feeling when you are shifting into gear. If the grinding noise occurs after engaging the clutch and shifting, this can be sign that clutch will need to be replaced or adjusted.