If you want your car to have a long life its important to check all of the components regularly. The transmission is no different and should be included in routine maintenance to assure a consistent performance from your car. The following article explains how to check the transmission on automatic and manual cars.
• If your car has Automatic transmission start by checking the Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) levels. While the engine is running put the car in neutral and locate the ATF dipstick. It is usually at the back of the engine and stands out as it is shorter than the oil dipstick and is labeled ATF. Remove the dipstick, wipe it clean and dip it back in fully. Remove it the ATF dipstick and find the warm and cool level marks. If the reading is below the warm level marker there could be a problem. If the warm level is low there could be a leak as the transmission fluid level shouldn’t deplete through use. You should check the colour of the fluid whilst checking the level. It should be a reddish, pink hue. If it is darker it could mean there is a fault with the engine transmission which could have been avoided with more regular maintenance. After checking the fluid levels shift from neutral to first gear and make a note of how long it takes for the transmission. Try again, shifting from first to neutral. When you are shifting gears the transmission should feel firm without feeling forced or grating.
• If you have a Manual car the checks are virtually the same as above except you won’t need to check any automatic transmission fluid. Also when testing the gears you can test up to the highest gear to check all the ones in between run smoothly. You’ll still need to check the fluid quality by looking at the colour and also the levels to ensure there are no leaks. Whilst driving try using different gears to gauge the performance. Try putting your foot down and keep an eye on the RPM. If the engine’s RPM is increasing but the speed isn’t then this more you may have problems with the clutch. If the problem doesn’t subside take it to a garage for a referral. It’s best to do this sooner rather than later to prevent more damage from occurring.