Your car’s transmission is one of the most critical aspects of the entire vehicle. The transmission regulates the power that goes to your car’s wheels that in turn makes it drive at any given speed. It’s not dissimilar to the gear shift of a multi-speed bicycle, and many of the same problems that affect a bike’s gear shift can affect a car’s transmission, just on a much bigger scale.

It’s vital that you maintain your transmission properly and stay on the lookout for any signs that you might need transmission repair. By catching problems early, you could end up saving yourself a ton of money on costly repairs or even a full replacement.

Common Transmission Problems

Shifting is Rough & Bumpy

Your automatic transmission vehicle should be able to change gears so smoothly that you barely even notice when it happens. If you notice that your car’s gear shifting is rough, bumpy, or results in a noticeable noise, that’s a sign that your transmission isn’t working correctly. Or, if your car seems to be having an unusually hard time accelerating to the speed you want, your transmission may be the cause.

Gear Slipping

Gear slipping, or transmission slipping, refers to a phenomenon when your vehicle seems to be changing gears for no discernable reason. You might notice that it’s having trouble accelerating like it usually does or that your engine has sudden sound changes as you’re driving. The basic rule of thumb for vehicle care is that if something feels, sounds, or looks off, you should get it checked out by a professional immediately.

Leaking Fluids

Your transmission fluid should never leak or spill out from your engine. It’s always a good idea to check your driveway or parking spot after you pull away to see if there are any stains or pools of liquid left behind. Transmission fluid will appear in either a shade or red or brown. If you do notice evidence of a leak, don’t simply refill the fluid and call it a day. Transmission fluid leaks could indicate a bigger problem, so you should get your car check out by a transmission repair professional as soon as possible.

Delayed Start

Delayed start, or delayed engagement, occurs when you shift your car out of “park” and into “drive,” and it doesn’t start to move forward immediately. If there’s a significant pause where your car is in “drive” but is still stationary, this could signal a problem with your transmission.

Warning Light Appears

While your “check engine” warning light could signal a wide range of problems, if it appears on your dashboard, you should take your car into a professional service as soon as possible for a checkup. While you’re there, make sure they check the transmission to see if it’s working properly. Aarrow Transmission offers affordable auto repair in Glen Allen so that you always have somewhere to turn for reliable, trustworthy transmission repair services.

Repair Costs

The cost of transmission repair depends entirely on what the issue is. In some cases, you might only need a small part replaced, which will usually cost somewhere between $100-$300. If it turns out your need a full transmission replacement, you could be spending around $2,000-$3,000 on the entire job. That’s why it’s crucial to know how to recognize signs of transmission problems so that you can hopefully catch them early and avoid a costly full replacement.

Why Trust Aarrow Transmission

Aarrow Transmission proudly offers affordable auto repair in Glen Allen, VA. We’ve been helping our neighbors solve their car problems since 1985, and our team knows how to handle every type of car. We pride ourselves in providing honest, expert services to everyone who walks through our doors and always looking for the best, most affordable solution to your car troubles. Our priority is always the customer experience, and we make sure that you’re satisfied with Aarrow Transmission’s work from start to finish.