A gearbox plays an essential role in almost every motor-operating device, especially as the heart of power transmission. The gearbox helps speed the conversion of power transmission by offering a source of rotational energy for any motor-operating device to move and function at its peak performance.
All the same, a properly working gearbox with enough transmission fluid increases the lifespan of your vehicle and other motor-operating devices by preventing the effects of friction. Whether a manual or an automatic car, your gearbox is almost always susceptible to malfunctions.
Before such issues worsen, keep reading for the common indications you need to repair or replace your gearbox.
1. Failure to Switch Gears
Regardless of your vehicle's type of transmission system, struggling or a complete failure to switch gears indicates a problem with the gearbox. Common reasons for refusal to change gears include degraded transmission fluid, malfunctioning clutch master cylinders, or faulty torque converters.
Because the transmission fluid plays a crucial role in the proper functioning of your vehicle and gearbox, your gearbox can suffer problems due to the lack of enough lubrication, especially with low transmission fluid levels.
Over time, the transmission fluid fails to offer the needed lubrication that prevents excessive friction between components, especially when it's not regularly changed, thereby becoming degraded. When this happens, the fluid is also contaminated, and if it stays in the transmission system for a long, it makes gears challenging to shift as expected.
Therefore, if you experience constant difficulties switching gears even when the vehicle is in excellent shape, the problem is likely coming from the gearbox due to contaminated and degraded transmission fluid.
2. Unusual Burning Smells
Burning smells indicate low levels and sometimes overheated transmission fluid. Some of the causes of overheated transmission fluid include low fluid levels, radiators, and cooling systems problems, solenoid problems, and hot weather.
When there is a low transmission fluid level, your gearbox suffers malfunction due to reduced lubrication. When this happens, the system overheats quickly due to increased friction.
Also, burning smells can stem from the cooling system or radiators when they fail to keep all the elements inside the transmission system at their peak performances. For example, radiator malfunction means the engine won't operate as expected, thus leading to problems in switching gears or starting the vehicle, which also limits the functionality of the transmission fluid, thereby causing overheating issues.
On the other hand, for your vehicle to operate correctly, especially in starting and switching gears, it needs a properly working solenoid valve. The solenoid valve is responsible for the flowing in and out of the transmission fluid in an automatic transmission system.
As a result, if the solenoid valve suffers malfunctions, the transmission fluid automatically suffers problems getting into and out of the transmission system. All the same, your gearbox also suffers issues due to overheating.
3. Signs of Transmission Fluid Leakage
Although transmission fluid leakages are uncommon, you might sometimes suffer from them, especially with a faulty gearbox. You'll identify transmission fluid leaks at your parking site, driveways, and sometimes along the road.
Some of the top reasons causing transmission fluid leaks include a misaligned transmission pan gasket, problems with the transmission lines, and faulty transmission valves or solenoids. For example, the pan gasket helps keep your vehicle in excellent condition, considering it seals the transmission system with the gearbox accessories such as bells and more.
Unfortunately, failure for the pan gasket to correctly seal these fixtures leads to gearbox tear and wear, resulting in fluid leakage.
However, even after realizing the signs, you need gearbox repairs, getting a quick solution is the best consideration. Luckily, at Quad Fluid Dynamics Inc., you'll always find the right solution the first time.
Contact us always for reliable gearbox services.
