Here at Highway Tire Auto & Lube, we know that you want to keep your car in good shape. Unless you’re a mechanic by trade, however, it’s likely that you aren’t familiar with each and every part of your vehicle, what it does, and how to maintain it. One system that tends to be neglected, in our experience, is the transmission, which transfers the power of your engine into the wheels. Our team wants to provide you with the information you need to make good decisions when it comes to caring for your vehicle, so in this article, we’ll be going over three signs to look for to tell whether you need transmission service.
1. Whining or Grinding Sounds- If you hear a whining or grinding sound in your car, it’s likely that you need transmission service. A whining sound is typically caused by the needle pins wearing out, and you’ll usually hear it when your car is idle. A grinding sound as you shift gears usually indicates low levels of transmission fluid. If you hear any strange noise from your car, we at Highway Tire Auto & Lube encourage you to bring it in for an assessment.
2. Delayed Shifting- Another sign that you need transmission service is a delay in shifting gears. If you drive an automatic transmission vehicle, watch your RPM dial—if it skyrockets as the engine shifts, then you may be just one step away from total transmission failure.
3. Unexpected Shifting- Related to the above sign, yet another indication that you need transmission service is if your car shifts gears for no reason. In an automatic transmission vehicle, the engine will shift between gears unexpectedly, while in a manual one, the engine will often pop into neutral on its own. If either of these things start happening in your car, we at Highway Tire Auto & Lube urge you to stop by our shop to get your transmission properly checked out and serviced.