When people think about a car overheating, they usually assume the engine will be to blame. After all, that's where most of the heat in your car is generated. However, it's also possible for other parts of your vehicle to overheat, including the transmission.
Since your car's transmission is responsible for taking power from the engine and directing it to the wheels, this is a vital part that goes through constant stress during every drive. If overheating ever occurs, you need to have the issue addressed as soon as possible to prevent everything from breakdowns to internal damage.
With that in mind, here are just five common signs of an overheated transmission.
1. Active Transmission Warning Light
Dashboard warning lights can be tempting to ignore, but doing so can mean that minor issues are allowed to turn into major problems. In many cases, a light on your instrument cluster will be the first sign of an overheating transmission. This occurs when the temperature sensors that monitor transmission fluid find that readings are exceeding normal values.
2. Burning Smell
There are many reasons why you might start to notice a burning smell coming from your vehicle, including an overheated transmission. When your transmission gets too hot, the transmission fluid required for operation can start to blacken and burn. This will typically produce unpleasantly harsh fumes that can be smelt even within the cabin.
3. Delayed Engagement
When your transmission is functioning properly, it should change gears without any noticeable delay. However, it needs to be well lubricated for this to occur, and overheating can burn away the proper lubrication. If you ever notice that your transmission isn't responding as quickly as it should, overheating is a possible cause. This is an issue that should be addressed without delay since delayed engagement can reduce your control over the vehicle.
4. Engine Overheating
Your engine and transmission work together closely, so a problem with one will often affect the other. Since your car's cooling system is responsible for removing heat from both systems, an overheated transmission may also cause your engine to start overheating. When this happens, both warning lights will usually become active on your dash.
5. Unexplained Vibrations
Overheated transmissions will lose vital transmission fluid, and this can lead to heavy vibrations when you are attempting to shift. In some cases, it will seem as if the transmission is struggling to move between gears. This is most commonly experienced while accelerating.
To learn more, visit a local car service shop today.
