There are various problems that can occur with your transmission. Whether you have a manual or automatic, an overheating transmission is a common problem. Here are the main signs to help you diagnose it and get it fixed as quickly as possible.

Know Why Your Transmission Could Overheat

Before you look at the signs, you need to know why it could overheat. It's estimated that 90% of transmission failures are due to overheating, so it is a problem you need to understand right now. Low transmission fluid is a very common reason, as the fluid helps to keep the whole system cool. It could also be due to your stop-start traffic or a hot climate.

You Can Smell the Problem

A common sign of your transmission overheating is the scent of the burning fluid. It will be slightly sweet, and very distinctive to any other burning smell you may have in your car. If you do get this scent, it could indicate that your fluid level is low, ineffective or leaking from somewhere. Whatever the reason, it is causing the overheating transmission.

Your Transmission Keeps Slipping

Another common sign is a slipping transmission. You will feel the car struggling to move and keep going. The problem is this can be a sign of various other problems, and not just an overheating transmission. If you sense this issue, you need to get it seen to straight away.

Your Transmission Temperature Gauge Warns You

These are inexpensive to fit and will tell you if there is a problem with the transmission heat. If you are in a lot of stop-start traffic, you may see that it rises continuously and you will need to turn the engine off to rectify it. However, when driving consistently, it should remain the same. If it doesn't, then your transmission is overheating and you need to get it fixed. Many gauges will now come with warning lights, so you don't constantly need to keep your eyes on the dashboard.

Overheating is the main reason for a transmission to fail. It's important to get it fixed as soon as possible, and the only way to do that is to know the signs that there is a problem. Watch out for sweet smells and invest in a gauge to tell you when the temperature is getting high. Regular maintenance on the fluid will also ensure your car remains in good working order. For more insight, visit services like Atomic Transmissions.

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