Exploring the Common Causes of Transmission Failure

You need to swing by your transmission shop in Rockville, MD occasionally, or your whole vehicle will pay the price. Without regular manual or automatic transmission service, you’ll run into problems that can run you off the road. Your transmission needs clean fluid to run properly, and it needs the right amount. A bad clutch or problems with your torque converter can also set the stage for transmission disaster and end up wearing out other components of your car. Keep reading and explore the common causes of transmission failure.

A fluid leak is a common cause of transmission failure

Fluid Leaks

Every component of your vehicle needs to communicate and interact with other components. When it comes to the healthy functioning of your transmission, you need the proper fluids. You can take care of your vehicle and prevent transmission problems by making sure you have the right amount of transmission fluids and ensuring that the fluid is clean. Depending on the transmission fluid you use, it might be colorless or bright red. You can tell your fluid is dirty and in need of changing when it takes on a darker brown color. At this point it won’t do a good enough job of cooling down your transmission, which can lead to overheating and a multitude of other problems. Look out for patches of liquid on the surface of your driveway and call your transmission repair pro for help.

Bad Clutch

Your clutch is essentially what you use to control your transmission if you drive a manual vehicle. Unfortunately, the clutch can wear out over time and lead to transmission failure. “Riding the clutch” is somewhat synonymous with aggressive, erratic driving, which is a practice you should always avoid. If you’re worried that your clutch is starting to wear out, see your transmission service professional for a second opinion.

Torque Converter Issues

Without your torque converter, you’d be going nowhere fast. If you want to keep yours in shape, it’s especially important to avoid abusing it. This also comes back to the way you drive your vehicle, as abrupt starts and stops can cause your torque converter to overheat.