Are your gears acting shifty? A car’s gear shifting should be smooth and quiet – if your car is suddenly not shifting gears correctly, it’s bound to cause some serious drivability problems. Depending on what type of transmission your car has, there are different parts that impact your car’s ability to shift gears. However, there are a few common causes for your car shifting gears differently than usual.
Low or Dirty Transmission Fluid
An essential part of modern transmissions, the transmission fluid lubricates moving parts and helps generate pressure necessary to shift gears in an automatic transmission. When transmission fluid becomes too dirty or low, it can impact your car’s ability to properly shift gears. You may hear a grinding sound, notice delayed shifting, or even slipping gears if the transmission fluid is your problem.
In Both Automatic and Manual Transmissions, Keep Up with Transmission Fluid Replacements
Once you get your transmission operating smoothly again and to help keep it that way, schedule transmission fluid replacement services at recommended intervals. Your owner’s manual should include your car manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule. Your mechanic can also help advise you as to how the environment or your driving habits may mean adjustments to that schedule should be made.
The Clutch is Worn Out
If you drive a manual transmission, the clutch is where gear shifts actually happen. It’s normal for the clutch to wear out gradually over time, but when it’s wearing out, you’re sure to notice changes in how your car shifts gears. This can include difficulty shifting or an inability to shift gears at all.
Listen for the Clutch Grinding When Shifting Gears
A key sign that your clutch is not doing well is a grinding sound when shifting gears. When healthy, the clutch and transmission should easily and quietly shift into the desired gear. However, when you hear grinding, it can indicate worn gears and you may need a new clutch.
A Problem with the Torque Converter
On the other hand, if you have an automatic transmission car, it doesn’t have a mechanical clutch in the same way as a manual transmission. Instead, there’s a similar system in place, the torque converter, which may also be behind your car shifting gears differently than usual. This will be one of the first places your mechanic will look if you’re having difficulty shifting gears.
In an Automatic Transmission Car, Shifting Gears Relies on the Torque Converter
Sitting between the engine and transmission, the torque converter helps allow these two systems to operate independently – at least to a necessary degree. The torque converter then helps create the pressure required to shift gears in the transmission. If this process isn’t working properly, you’ll notice more difficulty shifting gears with your automatic transmission.
The Synchronizers Have Worn Out
Modern manual transmissions use synchronizers to help gears fit together smoothly, making these parts essential for smooth gear shifting. If you’ve noticed your manual transmission suddenly popping out of gear or having difficulty shifting gears, it could be due to worn synchronizers.
Avoid Aggressive Shifting with Your Manual Transmission Car
If you typically drive with a lead foot or fly through gears while gaining speed, you may be causing extra wear on your car’s transmission – especially the synchronizers. Listen out for a grinding sound when you shift gears, since this can point to worn synchronizers, too.
Faulty Engine Control Unit
Modern cars increasingly use electronic components, computers, and sensors to help determine what action needs to happen and when. This includes communicating with the transmission about when gear shifts should happen, based on the speed of your vehicle and the amount of power required.
In Automatic Transmissions, the ECU Senses When Your Car Should Shift Gears
Without direct control from the driver, automatic transmission vehicles rely on the engine control unit (ECU) to dictate when a gear shift is necessary. The ECU communicates with sensors that detect the speed of your car and then use that information to determine when a gear shift should happen. If there’s a problem with one of the sensors, the ECU, or any other connected part, it can lead to bad gear shifts.
Worn Transmission Linkage
No matter what type of transmission your vehicle has, it’s a complex system in which a number of parts must work together, including linkage. As with any parts and systems, these parts gradually wear out with time and use, eventually causing problems, including difficulty shifting gears, meaning they need to be replaced.
The Exact Linkage Varies Between Manual and Automatic Transmission Cars
In a manual transmission, you may notice a difference in how your clutch pedal feels, which can signal a problem with the clutch pedal cables. With automatic transmissions, the shifter cable could be broken or out of place. In either case, diagnosing necessary transmission repairs is best left up to a trusted mechanic.
Car Not Shifting Gears? Visit Your Local AAMCO Minnesota Auto Repair
Is your car not shifting how it should? Not only is this a frustrating problem, but it’s also a sign of an urgent transmission repair that should be handled sooner rather than later. Transmission problems will only escalate with time – let the transmission experts at your local AAMCO Minnesota auto shop help. Give us a call today or easily schedule your appointment with us online.