Automatic Transmission Troubleshooting

Automatic transmission is the most preferred form of transmission over its manual counterpart. This is because not much effort is required while driving a vehicle which is equipped with an automatic transmission. Automatic transmissions normally do not cause much trouble, but sometimes, malfunctioning of an automatic transmission can be a real bother.

This is because the complicated design and working of an automatic transmission system is beyond the understanding of a home mechanic and also the garage gear required to fix the problems is not available in the regular tool kit. Automatic transmission, if causing any problems, is generally advised to be taken to an expert mechanic, but at the same time it is better to check out what exactly the problem is? This would help you in discussing your car problems with the mechanic and calculate the details of the long bill that the mechanic is going to hand over to you.

Troubleshooting Automatic Transmission Problems

Fluid Leaking: The biggest concern in automatic transmission is that of fluid leakage. Fluid generally starts leaking when either the filler tube is loose or there is a defect in the pan gasket. However, as a preliminary measure, you can fix this problem by tightening all the bolts surrounding the leakage area and also tightening the tube nut. If the problems still persists, you need to straightaway change the gasket.

Gear Problems: Gear problems in the form of gear shifting or slipping gears are again a common troublesome area for the owners of vehicles with an automatic transmission. Gear shifting problems occur either when there are any defects developed in the vacuum or linkage controls or when fluid level goes down. Sometimes the failure of the internal clutch or band is also responsible for problems in gear shifting. The simplest remedy for this problem is to perform a regular check on the fluid level and correct it accordingly.

Spilling out of Fluid: It is not always the low fluid levels that pose a problem to the transmission, sometimes high levels of fluids can also prove troublesome. Spilling of fluid from the oil filler tube is a problem that is caused due to high fluid levels. However, internal fluid leakage, clogging in oil filter or breather vent are also sometimes responsible for fluid spillage. The possible solution to this problem is to change the filter and if necessary change the fluid.

Erratic Gear Shifting: Sometimes there can be a delay in gear shifting. This is a result of some malfunctioning in the internal auto parts, low levels of fluid or breaking of vacuum lines. However, this problem can be fixed by either replacing or repairing the vacuum lines or it can be prevented with the help of a regular check up of the fluid.

Overheating of Transmission: Overheating of transmission at regular intervals leads to its malfunctioning. Overheating mainly occurs due to clogging in the fluid cooler lines. Any type of defect in the oil pump or fluid or decrease in the fluid levels can also be the causes for overheating of the transmission. This problem can be resolved by altering the cooler lines and updating the fluid levels.

So folks, this was an article on automatic transmission troubleshooting. Remember these were some common problems and there are many other problems that can be caused by the automatic transmission of your vehicle. After reading this article though you can now detect the problem and discuss it with a mechanic. Take care that the repair is dealt with by the mechanic himself. However, for your car safety, I would advise you to perform a regular check up of the entire vehicle, as a car check up is less expensive than car repair!