Trying to determine whether a strange sound or faulty car performance is coming from the engine or transmission can be difficult at times. Here we will look at several common automatic transmission problems you are likely to encounter in your vehicle. They will help you determine whether your transmission is working properly or need a professional opinion before you decide to send the car to a transmission specialist.
Check for shifting slippage. You encounter this problem when the engine RPM's increase and the transmission takes longer than usual to shift gears or changes too soon. Sometimes this is caused by lack of oil, worn clutches or some other internal mechanical problems in the transmission. In severe cases, you might not even be able to move your car.
Hear the sounds coming from the transmission. On occasions, you might be able to hear a grinding or screeching sound. This problem may be produced by lack of oil or internal mechanical problems, which should be further diagnosed by an auto transmission specialist.
Look for shifting at the wrong speed intervals. This happens when the transmission shifts gears either too soon or too late. This may be caused by lack of oil or faulty transmission governor; other reasons might point to a speed sensor, engine performance problems, or hydraulic or vacuum circuits between the engine and transmission.
Pull the transmission oil dipstick and inspect the oil condition. Wipe oil from the tip of the dipstick using a white paper towel. If the oil looks dark brown and/or smells burned, the clutches might be badly worn. If the transmission is shifting abnormally, this might be the cause.
Look for a milky or pink color in your transmission fluid. This might point to a leak from the radiator cooler into the transmission lines. Coolant in the transmission may cause seals and fiber material in the clutches to wear prematurely, causing the gears to slip during shifting.
Examine the tip of the dipstick after wiping the oil. If you find a brownish film sticking at the tip, the transmission oil is worn and probably has covered some valves, pistons and other internal parts as well. This may cause several problems like hard shifting or not shifting at all.
