Blog

A smooth-running transmission is as vital for your Toyota as a smooth-running engine. The engine and transmission work together to move your car. The engine provides the power, and the transmission translates this power into a usable form to move your wheels. Like all mechanical systems, the transmission can develop problems, and you'll need a transmission repair. As your Toyota dealer, we can repair any transmission problem. These are a few signs that you'll need a repair. Signs You Need a Transmission Repair at Your Toyota Dealer Fluid Leak Transmission fluid is the lifeblood of your transmission. The fluid reduces the transmission temperature and lubricates all of the moving parts. Many of the transmission parts depend on friction to work, and the fluid provides a friction barrier to protect these parts. This fluid also provides the hydraulic power that your gears need to shift easily. A fluid leak is usually easy to spot, as transmission fluid is bright or dark red. It can leak from a worn transmission pan gasket, a blown seal, or damage to the transmission cover. If the leak continues, your gears will become more difficult to shift, and your transmission will start to overheat. An overheating transmission can lead to serious damage. Our technicians can trace the leak and repair it. more Burning Smells Your transmission fluid needs to be replaced regularly according to your car's service schedule. The reason for this is transmission fluid gradually loses its special properties. As the fluid circulated through the transmission, it accumulates rust, dirt, and other debris. This accumulation of debris makes the fluid thicker and more sluggish. The slower-moving fluid leads to an increase in your transmission's temperature. The aging fluid will gradually lose its heat-resistant properties, and the increasing transmission temperature can cause the fluid to burn. Burning transmission fluid smells similar to burning rubber. If smell rubber burning, your fluid may need to be changed. Our technicians can check the fluid, flush your transmission if required, and replace the fluid. Driving Feels Unstable Your Toyota transmission should shift easily as you or your transmission computer shift gears. Over time, you may notice a jerk-like pull from your automatic transmission when the gears shift. This jerking movement starts gradually and will become more violent as time passes. As the problem becomes more serious, your transmission may shake as it shifts gears. A manual transmission produces grinding noises as you shift gears, and shifting becomes more difficult. One of the main causes of these problems is a lack of fluid. Our technicians can check the fluid and replace it. Your transmission will always show signs that something is wrong. If you have a transmission problem, call us ASAP at Cloninger Toyota.

Without a functional transmission, your vehicle will not move, as the transmission is responsible for transferring the power from the engine to the wheels. You don't want to let your transmission get to that point before getting it serviced, though, or you'll end up stranded. Fortunately, there are quite a few common signs to tell you that your car needs transmission service. more Dashboard Warning Light While not every vehicle has a specific warning light on its dashboard to indicate that your transmission needs to be serviced, most cars do have a light that will warn you that something is wrong with your vehicle and that it needs to get a diagnostic test right away to see what the problem is. This is true for your transmission, as a "service engine soon" or "check engine" light will come on if your transmission is not working properly. Metal-on-Metal Grinding Sound If you start hearing a grinding or squealing sound when you shift, this is likely an indication that your vehicle is low on transmission fluid. The metal-on-metal grinding is actually the result of not having enough lubrication from the transmission fluid. This is a situation that can occur in vehicles that have either an automatic or manual transmission, and if you hear it, you should bring your car into a repair center, such as your dealership, that services transmissions immediately. Burnt Smell You should never smell anything burning in your vehicle, and sometimes it can be hard to know what is causing the burnt smell. However, if this smell reminds you of paper burning, and it occurs when you shift, it could be a transmission problem. If you have a manual transmission, it probably means you need a new clutch plate. For an automatic transmission, it's a sign that the transmission fluid is overheating. Either way, you're going to need service. Late Shifting This is an issue that will only occur in vehicles with automatic transmissions because the transmission is supposed to shift when it reaches certain RPMs. If your car is revving higher than normal between shifts, you need to add transmission fluid to your car. You should not wait too long to get your vehicle into a service center because continued operation with late shifting will lead to a bigger, and more expensive, transmission problem. Popping Out of Gear Cars that have manual transmissions should not randomly pop out of gear, so if your vehicle is doing this, it is something that needs attention immediately. Not only is it causing a dangerous situation for you, but it also could be the sign of low transmission fluid, worn synchronizers, or shift linkage that has not been adjusted properly. In any case, you cannot allow this problem to continue for safety's sake, as well as for your transmission's sake. In most cases, transmission problems can be fixed by adding transmission fluid or by replacing it with new, uncontaminated fluid. However, you can't really tell how severe the issue is unless you get your vehicle serviced right away. So, if you're seeing any of these signs, contact Cloninger Toyota today to schedule an appointment to have your transmission inspected by one of our experienced technicians.