How To Spot Trouble Early

In order to catch transmission sickness at its outset, you have to know the symptoms to look for. There are five areas in which symptoms show up. They are: dipstick symptoms, leakage symptoms, operating symptoms, shift handle symptoms, noise symptoms.

Transmission malfunction can reveal itself in a number of ways. Each symptom may have a number of possible causes. A systematic check up by a Pro is usually necessary to establish the cause of operating symptoms, including any of the following:

Delayed Engagement

Also called "Morning Sickness". Car won't budge or shifts late during first few moments of operation.

Doesn't Go In Drive

You back out of your driveway, shift to D, and nothing happens.

Doesn't Go in Any Position

Even racing engine won't move car.

Doesn't Go in Reverse

You pull over near curb. Shift into R. Nothing happens.

Slippage with Engine Rev Up

Engine races. Car lags. And won't accelerate as it should.

Shifting at improper Speed Levels

Any noticeable early or late shifting.

Passing Gear Won't Engage

You get no surge of power when you press the pedal to the floor.

Rough Shifting, Clunking into Gear

Noise in shifting, either manually or automatically.

Erratic Shifting

You feel an unexpected surge or loss of power.

Car Moves Forward or Backs Up in Neutral (N).

Shift Will Not Hold in Park (P).

Car Labors or Stalls on Take Off.

Engine Won't Brake in One or More Gears.

Shift handle won't move.

Shift handle must be slightly off P or N to start car.

Shift handle hard to move out of P (park).

Shift handle hard to move in any position.

Shifting feels "harsh".

Any of the following should worry you. Yet, you may need only a simple linkage repair or solenoid replacement. The one way to know? Take it to a Professional.