Hi, my name is Angela, and as the wife of a mechanic, I was constantly tripping over car parts and complaining about the rows of project cars lining our garden. However, after a few years, I quit complaining and actually found joy in the art of auto repair. Inspired by that classic book, "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance", I decided to start working on cars with my husband. This blog is the culmination of everything I have learned and more. I hope you enjoy reading it and that my tips and ideas guide you toward a healthier car and a happier, safer driving experience.
Your car's transmission system is a crucial part of the vehicle's performance, safety and service life. Therefore, it is only right to ensure that the system stays running properly for as long as possible. To achieve that, you will need to make sure you can troubleshoot for transmission issues before they can exacerbate and result in bigger, costlier problems.
Read on to know how you can tell when your manual car is experiencing transmission problems.
Slipping gear
A car with a manual transmission is designed to remain in a particular gear until it is changed by the person driving the car. If your car shifts gear without the driver's action or intervention, the car definitely has a transmission problem. This leads to serious safety concerns because your car will fail to move as it is supposed to when its clutch is already engaged.
The most likely reason why your car can spontaneously change gear is that the link holding the gears in place may be broken. As it is very unsafe to drive around in a car that can shift gear spontaneously when you are on the road, the car should be inspected and fixed immediately.
Grinding sound
Do you hear an ear-piercing, grinding sound every time you change gears? Well, that's a surefire indicator of a transmission problem. The most likely cause of the grinding noise may be a worn clutch. In a manual transmission car, the clutch can wear due to leaking of the hydraulic fluid from the clutch master cylinder. Lack of enough lubricant in the clutch master cylinder causes the clutch to get worn rapidly.
Another possible reason for the grinding noise may be worn gear synchronisers. Whatever the cause of the problem, make sure you have the problem repaired as quickly as possible.
Burning odour
Any unusual smell that comes from your car should never be ignored, especially if the smell suggests that something is burning. When it overheats, transmission fluid can result in a burning odour, which can be sensed when you get out of your car. Overheating fluid can cause extensive damage to several components of your car's transmission system if left untreated; therefore, you should get the car inspected as soon as possible.
Taking your car to a reputable auto repairer immediately you detect any of the above-discussed signs can go a long way in ensuring that you get the most service out of the car.
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