Automatic Transmission issues
1. Transmission won’t engage or stay in gear If when you put your vehicle into gear and it won’t move, this may be a problem with low transmission fluid due to a leak, the shifter, shifter cable, or it could even be a problem in the valve body of your transmission. Some vehicles depend on the computer to tell the transmission when to go into gear based on your selection and you could need to have the computer system checked for trouble codes.
2. Shifts are delayed or missing gears If your transmission takes a time to go into gear, you could have a low transmission fluid condition because of a leak or contamination due to lack of maintenance or even water intrusion. While this may not sound serious, but this can also create an overheating condition that can damage internal transmission components. Other possibilities could be an engine related problem that will cause the computer to not let the transmission to shift into higher gears.
3. Transmission slipping and the engine is revving high This condition can also be caused by low transmission fluid, contamination due to lack of maintenance or water intrusion, or internal wear and tear on the transmission components inside the transmission. A high revving engine is a typical sign that you have worn clutches or other parts inside the transmission have been damaged.
4. Transmission fluid is leaking A red fluid under the vehicle is a sign that you probably have a transmission fluid leak from one of the cooler lines, a gasket or a seal. This is not only bad for the transmission but is also dangerous if the fluid leaks on a hot pipe or other surface. Check for proper fluid level and condition.
5. If there’s a burning smell A burning smell is typically caused by a fluid leak or in some cases by low fluid causing a burning clutch smell. If you catch the fluid leak quickly you might be able to save the transmission from damage. Check your transmission dipstick as per the manufacturer’s direction for level and condition.
6. If there is buzzing, clunking, humming noise A buzzing, clicking, humming, roaring noise from inside the transmission is usually a symptom of a bad bearing, planetary gears damage, or other internal problem. A buzzing could also come from a bad internal sealing surface, a seal, or low transmission fluid due to a leak.
7. Car has no power If the vehicle has no or little power and the engine is running correctly, this could be from internal transmission problems, brakes that are dragging due to a faulty caliper or brake hose, or your computer in the vehicle is limiting power because of a problem it has detected in order to protect the engine. Have the vehicle checked for trouble codes to isolate the problem. It is recommended to have your transmission serviced including filters and fluids to prevent contamination in the oil creating some of the issues listed above.