Purchasing a car is one of the largest investments (next to purchasing a house) someone makes. It is their responsibility to seek auto repair whenever it is necessary to make sure their car remains in optimal condition and is able to perform all the tasks necessary to get them through the day. The transmission is responsible for many of the functions a car performs, from switching gears to knowing how fast the car needs to go. Problems with the transmission of a car can be detrimental to it and make the car owner want to run and hide from the problem. However, if something is suspected to be wrong with a car's transmission, they should seek immediate care with an auto mechanic. There are several ways to tell if a transmission needs the help of auto repair.
Noises that are out of the ordinary coming from underneath a car's hood are never a good sign. If something is wrong with the transmission of an automatic car someone can usually hear a grinding or whining noise. This grinding noise occurs a lot of the time whenever switching from one gear to another. Alternatively, in a manual transmission, small "bumping" noises in neutral mean that something is wrong. This can be a signal of needing to change the transmission fluid. However, hearing a lot of noise in neutral means that something more drastic needs to take place and possible transmission repair or replacement needs to occur.
Many people notice water coming off of the bottom of their car. This is not a bad thing, as it's usually just condensation. Noticing a pool of sticky, red, sweet-smelling fluid (as nice as that sounds) is definitely a problem. This means that there is a leak in the transmission and transmission fluid leaking out. When this occurs, someone is in need of an auto mechanic quickly, as the fluid is vital to being able to shift the car.
The one sign that many people overlook is their check engine light. Everyone has freaked out about their check engine light coming on, rushed to the repair shop or a local auto parts store that has the capabilities to diagnose it, and left feeling ridiculous because nothing was wrong with it. Many people ignore when their light comes on for this very reason. Yet, this is usually the first warning sign that something is wrong with a transmission. Whenever a check engine light comes on, it is always important to seek auto repair. It's always better to be safe than sorry.
Cars help people in most aspects of their lives. They are responsible for getting their children to school, getting people to work on time, and aid in running errands. Auto repair is essential to any car owner and knowing when to seek it can mean the difference between a small problem and a large one.