Warning Signs of Possible Transmission Failure

Your engine and transmission are two of the most critical parts of your vehicle (besides your stereo, right?) and problems with either of them can quickly leave you stranded and in need of a tow. Fortunately, there are signs of a transmission that’s possibly failing, and the Roper Honda team put our heads together to create a list of things to be wary of as you drive your Honda around Southwest Missouri.

If your vehicle is making any sort of weird sounds, leaving a puddle on your garage floor, or giving off weird smells the best thing to do is call the certified service team at Roper Honda to schedule a visit so we can figure out what’s wrong. We’re proud to provide automatic transmission repair services at our Honda dealership near Joplin.

Our list of Transmission/Gearbox Failure Symptoms

Intercepting a possible transmission concern or failure requires paying close attention to your vehicle but that extra attention will reward observant owners with longer-lived vehicles. Most transmission issues will present themselves while you’re operating your vehicle but there’s one sign that you can detect in your garage, on your driveway, or in any parking lot near Joplin:

• Be on the lookout for any puddles forming under your vehicle. They could be something as innocuous as condensation from your air conditioner but can represent big problems. Transmission fluid is typically red to dark red and if you see it under your vehicle, you could have a very serious transmission concern. Your vehicle may have a dipstick for the transmission that will allow you to check the color and condition, but if you’re worried about your transmission condition your best move is to contact a professional.

You may also notice a burning smell coming from your car regardless of whether you’re driving, stuck in traffic, or parked around Joplin. That’s always worth a close inspection and can easily indicate a major problem with your vehicle – even if it’s not directly related to a transmission concern.

More Auto Transmission Problem Signs

Many transmission concerns will present themselves while you’re operating your vehicle, but they aren’t all as obvious as your car or truck suddenly coming to a stop and refusing to move an inch. (Call us if that happens!) Here are some definite automatic transmission signs of failure:

• Your shifts might be delayed, or your transmission might be skipping gears. You may notice hard jolts you feel throughout your whole vehicle, or the signs might be more subtle. This could be caused by low transmission fluid and can potentially cause a serious overheating issue.
• Your vehicle might not start when you go to leave the grocery store. This happened to your intrepid blog writer, and it turns out the cable that connects the gear shift lever in the cabin was disconnected from the transmission due to a failed piece of hardware. I was moving the gear shift from park to reverse to drive, but the transmission was never moving out of neutral, and the car wouldn’t start for safety reasons.
• If you hear abnormal noises (buzzing, humming, or possibly clunking sounds) coming from your transmission you may need to call our team for a diagnostic. You could be dealing with an internal problem or the possibility of a bad gasket or seal somewhere in the transmission.

What To Do If Your Transmission Is Slipping

Another common transmission issue is slippage, and that concern is a classic indicator of a developing transmission problem. Give the Roper Honda dealership in Joplin a call if you’re experiencing any of these signs of a slipping transmission:

• You step down on the gas, and your engine revs loudly, but you don’t accelerate as expected. You might also experience a hard slam when the transmission finally “grabs” as the transmission and engine speeds don’t align properly.
• You’re commuting to work at your normal speed, but your engine RPMs are significantly higher than normal.
• Your engine is louder than you’re used to in normal driving situations.

A slipping transmission can be caused by concerns with your transmission’s clutches, fluid level, valve bodies, gears, torque converter, or solenoids so your best fix for a transmission that’s slipping is a consultation with the professional transmission repair technicians at Roper Honda in Joplin. They have an incredibly high level of knowledge of what all those transmission terms mean and also have the tools to fix your transmission concerns.

Visual Signs and Indicators of Automatic Transmission Failure

Transmission problems can be difficult to detect without a great familiarity with the working of your vehicle but there are visual indicators on your dashboard that offer a warning when things aren’t operating as designed.

• Your Check Engine light, or Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL), doesn’t illuminate only when you’re having engine problems. It can turn on for a variety of other reasons and a transmission concern is absolutely included in those causes. If you experience any of the symptoms above in combination with the MIL/Check Engine light, you need to get in touch with the Honda service team at the Roper Honda dealership in Rolla.
• The Overdrive (O/D) light is another incredibly helpful and important indicator of a developing transmission issue with your vehicle. Losing access to your overdrive gear(s) will cause your engine to turn at higher RPMs at highway speeds and can be caused by hydraulic, electrical, or mechanical concerns with your transmission. If you see this light on your dashboard it’s definitely time to seek help from the professionals.

Signs of CVT Transmission Problems

A continuously variable transmission (CVT) works a bit differently from a standard transmission, in that it changes through an essentially unending range of effective gear ratios while you drive instead of the fixed set of ratios in the typical transmission, but the CVT tends to exhibit the same concerns as a normal transmission when it begins to fail. Keep your eyes and ears open for:

• Wildly varying RPMs at highway speeds or during acceleration
• Transmission fluid collecting under your vehicle
• Our old friend slipping or slippage of the transmission
• Slow shifts between Park, Reverse, and Drive
• Strange sounds

The Internet is filled with sites suggesting the CVT was invented by none other than Leonardo Davinci. We can’t attest to that but, regardless of who invented this type of transmission, we know they’ve been in mass production since the 1950s and most hybrid vehicles use a version of the CVT to connect their electric and gasoline drivetrains.  Our technicians are also trained in CVT transmission repair and maintenance.

Finding Transmission Repair Near You

Are you concerned about your vehicle’s transmission and looking for a professional diagnostic and repair or replacement? The Service team at Roper Honda is here to help with automatic transmission repairs near Joplin. Our trained and certified technicians will assess any suspected transmission issues on your new or older Hondas and help you determine the best course of action to ensure you continue enjoying your Honda vehicle. We’re quite capable of performing repairs on manual transmission as well if you happen to prefer to row your own gears.

You may wish to start by explaining your transmission concern to one of our advisors, and you can reach them by phone at (888) 380-6116. We also offer online service appointment scheduling. Our dedicated and talented service team will be happy to address any other service needs or concerns you have on your Honda.

If you decide to replace your vehicle based on transmission concerns we have a fantastic inventory of New Honda vehicles near Joplin as well as an ever-changing inventory of Pre-owned vehicles near Springfield.

We can’t wait to welcome you to our Honda dealership and service center in Joplin!