Staying On Top of Problems to Avoid Transmission Repair

Transmission repair can run the gamut from minor to extensive and from relatively cheap to exorbitantly expensive. While there's nothing even the most vigilant car owner can do to prevent things from going wrong, there are usually things you can do to make sure you stay on the former end of the spectrum. Proper car maintenance goes a long way, but simply making sure you pay attention to troubling signs can often save you a great deal of money in the long run. People like to pretend that ignoring problems will make them go away, but this just doesn't work. Here are some of the problems you might find. When you do, pay attention and get it addressed early.

Gear Shifting

If you're driving a vehicle with a stick shift, it's very important to stay on top of transmission repair and the problems that can arise during the operation of your vehicle. To drive a standard, you need precise timing in shifting gears. If you start to notice this timing slip, or if you simply can't get the shifter to go into the next gear, it's time to have it looked at by a professional. Manual parts are often a bit cheaper than their automatic counterparts, but they can get expensive if you need a rebuild. Check your fluid levels and get your car checked out to make sure the cables don't need adjustment.

Smells

Never ignore strange smells coming from your vehicle. The burning of fluids could definitely be a sign that something is wrong. You may have a leak or something could be overheating under the hood. You need your fluids to keep everything running smoothly and to keep those precision instruments from burning up and burning out. If you smell something burning, it could be your fluid. Take it in to a transmission repair and find out what the problem is. If you can catch a problem like this early on, it could save you hundreds of dollars in shop bills.

Check Engine Light

Car owners get endlessly frustrated with the check engine light. It means almost nothing, and yet it means everything. It can indicate anything from impending engine failure to the fact that you didn't screw your gas cap on tight enough. In the future, we may have computer banks in our dashboards that will tell us exactly what's wrong with our cars, but for now we have to take them in and have them diagnosed. The check engine light can mean you need transmission repair work, so take it in immediately when it comes on. Well, maybe check the gas cap first.