3 Warning Signs That Your Vehicle's Gearbox Needs a Check Up

One of the essential components of your vehicle is the gearbox. A problematic gearbox should be taken care of as early as possible to prevent more severe problems with your transmission system. This means it's extremely important to know some of the tell-tale signs that your transmission could be having a problem so that you know when it's time for gearbox repairs.

Slipping Gears

Among the most obvious signs of a gearbox problem are slipping gears. Your car should remain in the gear you select until you make a change. Be alarmed when your car pops out of gear spontaneously. If your vehicle has a manual transmission, your gear stick could even be forced back to neutral. Slipping gears can actually be dangerous because they affect how your vehicle moves. Slipping gears can sometimes be accompanied by another sign: difficulty engaging gears.

For an automatic transmission car, you will notice this when you engage the drive or park modes. In most cases, your gears will slip or fail to engage as usual when the synchromesh of your gearbox is worn.

Unusual Sounds When Engaging Gears

Your vehicle should switch gears smoothly without any noises. However, if you hear clicking or whistling sounds when engaging gears, your gearbox is likely the culprit. Usually such noises would be a result of worn out gearbox bearings. Replacing the bearings should solve the problem. Remember that you have to be extremely keen to notice these sounds. They can easily go undetected, especially if you are driving with your windows down or your radio's volume up.

Transmission Fluid Issues

Regular inspections of any components associated with your gearbox can actually reveal certain issues that would otherwise be undetected until the gearbox starts malfunctioning physically. The transmission fluid is one key thing you should have in mind whenever you are thinking of your vehicle's gearbox. This is because the fluid lubricates the components of your vehicle's transmission system and the gearbox is a key part of this system.

Checking your transmission fluid using the oil dipstick will in most cases show any issues with your gearbox. For instance, transmission fluids should be clear or bright red and should not be too low. If it appears dark in colour and is low in level, there could be some underlying issues such as a leakage.

Remember that checking transmission fluid for a manual transmission is different. You won't be needing the dipstick. You have to check through your fill plug at your car's transmission case.