Why transmission fails

Faulty Torque Converter. The torque converter pumps and pressurizes transmission fluid throughout the entire transmission system. A faulty torque converter prevents the fluid from being pressurized and propelled throughout the transmission, thus allowing gears to slip out of place or operate erratically. Ruptured Transmission Seals. Ruptured or faulty seals can allow the fluid to leak, resulting in serious damage.

Ben Marjamaa. Prev Next. Today: am - pm Open Now. Mon: am - pm. Tue: am - pm. Wed: am - pm. Thu: am - pm. A functioning transmission will slide right into the proper gear.

If your car is hesitating or giving you no response, something's wrong, and it's often the transmission. In a manual vehicle, this delayed shifting is accompanied by an RPM surge and engine noise that doesn't match your speed.

It might just be your clutch, but the only way to know for sure is to take it in for service. There are 6 main fluids in your vehicle. They lubricate, cool, and help you steer, brake, and clear your windshield. If your fluids leak or break down and you don't replace them fast enough, your engine can't work properly.

An automatic transmission fuel leak is easy to spot by its red color and sweet smell. It can also take on a darker color and toasty smell if it's past its prime. You can check for a leak yourself if you notice suspicious fluids on your driveway. Warm up the engine with a short drive, then check the transmission dipstick. The stick is indented to mark the proper fluid level. If your transmission fluid is low, there's a leak. It doesn't burn off like engine oil.

You can top it off to tide you over, but then you'll probably need a transmission re-seal. Though it's not a problem for automatic transmissions, a dragging clutch is a sign of trouble for manual vehicles.

Extra slack in the clutch pedal makes it hard for the clutch disc to disengage and leaves the clutch spinning. Because the clutch can't transfer the engine power to the drivetrain, it's impossible to change gears. If your car gets the shakes during gear shifts, something isn't right.

Normal transmissions shift smoothly, often without notice. You shouldn't be bouncing down the highway. While it's easy to downplay the problem at first, it gets worse with wear. The gradual increase in jerkiness might make you complacent until your gears are shot. Maybe your car flat out refuses to go into gear. We all need a break every now and then. It's often a fluids issue. If your fluids are clean and filled, it might be a problem with shift cables or the clutch linkage.

The fluid is usually red in color. Leaks are typically found near the drain plug or seal between the transmission and the engine. Transmission fluid is imperative for the operation of your car or truck. Obviously, leaking fluid can lead to a low fluid levels. You should also make sure the fluid is still in decent enough condition to perform its job.

As the fluid flows through the transmission, it lubricates and cools the components. At a certain point, the transmission will stop working altogether. This filter helps keep the fluid clean and of high quality.