Transmission Issues: 2 Possible Issues & Signs To Help Diagnose Them

A transmission system relies on an immense amount of parts, which is the main reason it requires specialized skills to repair it. The following guide will help you understand your transmission and show you 2 major compartments that could cause problems.  

1. The Torque Converter

The converter helps move the fluid within your transmission system, successfully keeping your transmission cool and lubricated. The converter is also responsible for keeping your system running, even when you are at a complete stop. The following are a few signs related to a bad torque converter:

• Your transmission might overheat, meaning you may notice a transmission fluid leak or the fluid may smell slightly burnt when you check the dipstick. This happens because your converter is not distributing the fluid properly, causing your system to be rigid and heat up beyond its capacity. 
• The car might slip from time to time when the fluid fails to lubricate the system.
• You might feel shuddering when you reach average speeds from 30 to 45 miles per hour.
• There may be some contaminants in the transmission fluid like black gunk, which could be because your system is overheating, or pieces of your transmission are chipping off. 
• You  may hear some clicking or revving noises coming from your transmission.
• There could be some acceleration issues because a bad converter won't allow pressure to build up properly.
• Your transmission might not shift easily, or you might feel it straining as you shift. 
• You may notice a delay between shifts, or your transmission might surge from time to time.

You can talk to your transmission specialist (such as one from A Transmissions) about these signs so that he or she can help you confirm this issue.

2. Bad Transmission Oil Pump

You may also be experiencing transmission problems because of a bad oil pump, which the following signs can help you diagnose:

• The fluid might not reach all the compartments with the transmission and may cause overheating, which you will see on your temperature gauge. This possibility is more evident if you know that you do not have a problem with your radiator. 
• You might feel some vibrations coming from your engine that could increase in severity.
• There might be sounds, like blowing or whirring coming from your transmission.
• The light indicating low oil might be on, even though you see oil in the transmission, which could mean that the pump is simply not allowing oil to pass through. 

Talk to your transmission specialist about these symptoms to help you get to the bottom of your problems and get your transmission up-to-speed once again.