There are times when the age of your vehicle starts to influence the performance, even when routine maintenance is conducted. Specially, diesel engine transmission upgrades are needed when the engine components are out of date and unable to keep up with the desired output. Other instances of inefficiency can indicate serious engine problems. Whether your transmission is surging or slipping, know the earliest sign of transmission trouble. This can help avoid more costly repairs, and by correcting or replacing worn elements, you can improve your engine’s efficiency.
1. The transmission is slipping. When your transmission starts slipping, you can be driving in one gear and the car suddenly changes to another. The engine might sound like its whining as slips, or it may change in pitch. You will also notice the engine doesn’t accelerate like it should, and it may feel like the vehicle is struggling or underpowered.
2. You experience rough shifts. Although you may enjoy the power of a full throttle and you are heavy on the clutch, you may notice that shifting between gears doesn’t occur smoothly. You may hear noises like “thud” or “clunk” when shifting, and the vehicle may experience difficulty getting up to your desired speed.
3. There is a delayed engagement. When this occurs, there will be noticeable delay before the vehicle shifts into gear and moves forward or backward. It is most commonly noticed when changing from park to drive, as the gas pedal may be pressed but there is no forward motion occurring.
4. You can see evidence of a fluid leak. The transmission is a sealed unit that should never leak. Spots on your garage floor or on the driveway that that are dark red or brown indicate a problem. Even small pinhole leaks in the lines or slow seal drips can quickly drain your transmission down to dangerously low operating levels.
When all else fails, your transmission warning light should come on and indicate a problem. Don’t take chances with one of the most expensive components of your engine. Get to a shop as soon as possible.