A Few Tips for Troubleshooting Auto Transmission Problems

When problems arise in your automatic transmission, it’s very important that you know the proper steps of transmission troubleshooting. If not following these steps, then you could be guessing at a problem your transmission might not have, wasting both time and money to get it fixed. Knowing the exact cause of transmission’s woes means you can get it repaired as quickly as possible and at minimal expense to you, which is ultimately what everyone wants. So, of course there are a few tips to follow when it comes to the correct automatic transmission troubleshooting.

The Basics of Auto Transmission Troubleshooting

To perform automatic transmission troubleshooting as accurately and cost-effectively as possible, you should follow these steps in order before you decide to take your car to the repair shop. If the problem is too advanced to fix yourself, pinpointing the exact cause can still cause repairs easier on you as well as the shop. The tips include;

Try to Determine the Problem First

Since you understand how your car should feel and operate more than any other person, try to determine what the problem is at firsthand. This is by looking under the car for any leaks, shift between gears for any issues or whether the gears are slipping.

Check the Transmission Fluid

Checking the transmission fluid is the next step to make since majority of transmission problems are caused by either low fluid levels or ineffective fluid. So, with that in mind, you ought to look for both the levels and the fluid condition. Low fluid levels mean that you have to add more fluid of the transmission fluid that is specified I the owner’s manual, while fluid that is contaminated, black or burnt will require a complete fluid and filter change.

Check on-board Diagnostic Codes

If the transmission fluid is okay or adding or changing the fluid hasn’t helped solve the problem, then you have to check your car’s on-board computer for any OBD codes. Free scans are offered in places such as AutoZone and Advance Auto Parts which only provide you with the OBD codes that come up. If you are looking to find out what a specific code is including repair advice, OBD-Codes.com offers lots of information on this topic.

Refer to a Repair Manual or Website

If no OBD codes pop up or you can’t find any solutions to it, refer to a repair manual or website for your particular vehicle’s make and model. Repair manuals often go much more in-depth although this incurs cost charges. Free information is available in Auto repairs help websites online.

Have a Professional Look at It

This is the last thing to do if all other transmission troubleshooting methods have failed. This is recommended if the problem is too complicated to fix yourself. A person with more experience can help solve these problems.