Repairing a malfunctioning transmission sometimes involves taking the entire gearbox apart and cleaning, repairing, or replacing each internal component before putting it back together again. But if you keep an eye out for early warning signs of trouble, you can often avoid the most extensive of transmission repair jobs. With this in mind, the following six issues should prompt you to visit your nearest Subaru dealership to have your transmission checked without delay.
A Smell of Burning Plastic
When transmission problems arise, the transmission fluid is often to blame. When the fluid gets old or reduces in volume, its essential lubricating function diminishes, which can rapidly lead to overheating, gears wearing out, and all kinds of other trouble.
When aging transmission fluid starts to break down, you’ll often smell an odor similar to that of burning plastic. This is the smell of the transmission fluid starting to burn.
Refresh Fluid Often at Your Local Subaru Dealer
As soon as you suspect your transmission fluid of getting old, have it checked and flushed at your nearest dealership. It’s generally best to have transmission fluid refreshed every 30,000 miles or so.
Reddish Fluid Puddling Under Your Car
Leaking transmission fluid can rapidly cause gearbox trouble. If you ever notice a puddle of red or brown liquid pooling under your car, have a technician find and fix the source of the leak as soon as possible.
High-Pitched Whining Sounds
Modern automatic transmissions tend to emit a whining sound when they first start to struggle. This whining might simply mean the fluid is low, but it might also indicate a more serious issue with the torque converter or planetary gear system.
Awkward Grinding Sounds
Grinding sounds often mean the gears are starting to stick or struggle to grip each other. Once again, flushing the fluid may resolve the problem if it hasn’t developed too far. You might also need to have some of the internal gears replaced.
Vibrations When Switching Gears
Any shaking and vibrating when shifting gears is never a good sign. Vibrations indicate that the gears are having trouble, perhaps due to low fluid. Gearbox vibrations will usually be accompanied by odd noises and other symptoms of a faltering transmission.
Unresponsive Gear Shifting
When gears begin to respond slowly to your shifts, it can become dangerous while you’re driving. Sometimes, faulty gear sets cause a delay of a few seconds before the new gears engage.
When this happens, your engine might also start revving loudly as the car struggles to shift properly. This is a sign that a more serious problem is developing, and a technician should take a look right away.
Have your car’s transmission fluid flushed and the gearbox inspected and repaired today at Stevens Creek Subaru. With a broad range of excellent vehicles and top-notch customer service, we’re the Bay Area’s premier Subaru dealership.
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