Like any mechanical contraption, car transmissions─ be they automatic or manual─ may break down at some point. When they do, you’ll need to have an auto repair shop look at it fast. A How Stuff Works article by Christopher Neiger and Akweli Parker details why taking care of the transmission is vital.
There’s no denying that Orlando is a place of long straight roads, even right in the tropical environment of central Florida. There exists, however, a danger of your car’s transmission acting up on you just when you need the power to safely negotiate the interstate– and a sudden stop in the middle of the highway can be a recipe for disaster. When you need your transmission at peak efficiency, an Orlando auto repair shop like Fast Lane Automotive will find a way to ensure the gearbox is running smoothly.
Here are some of the most notable issues worth watching out for in a finicky transmission:
- Noises – Automatic and manual transmissions have their own ways of using sound to show that something’s not right with them. Manual transmissions, for one, are known to make grinding sounds when you move the shift lever up or down then there’s a clunk! when it locks in; the clutch may be worn-out or needs adjusting. Meanwhile, automatics’ gears tend to shimmy and hum during shifts.
- Clutch Drag – Owners of vehicles with manual trannies know well about dragging clutches, wherein the clutch disk does not leave the flywheel. It can be solved by tightening up the clutch pedal once more at the repair garage.
- Slippy Gear – Some people who drive manual cars face the problem of shifting into gear only for the stick to jolt into neutral. You must find a way to maintain driving control and slow down to check the shift.
- Low Fluid – The transmission fluid also needs constant watch. You can identify leaking fluid by noticing the streak underneath the car and looking for patches of liquid. Replacing the transmission fluid may require a full drain and change.
Shifting gears when you need to increase speed for optimum cruising may be– in a sense– exciting as you see in movies with driving scenes, but it’s not cool at all when the transmission strains every time you shift. Trust in people who excel at auto repair in Orlando, FL, like the crew at Fast Lane, not to leave you hanging.
(Source: Top 10 Signs of Transmission Trouble, How Stuff Works)
