6 Signs That Your Transmission’s in Trouble

Diagnosing what may be wrong with your Mx5 is no easy task, but if you want to have some idea of what the problem is going to cost you, before you visit the mechanic, it’s sometimes necessarily. The moment you begin noticing that your car is acting in a way that is out of the ordinary, you should begin trying to determine what is happening.

There are main two types of car problems: mechanical and electrical. Mechanical problems generally stand out because of the distinct sensation and sounds they make when something is wrong. Transmission problems fall under this category, and can be very expensive to fix, especially when left unnoticed for some time. For this reason it’s very worthwhile to know ahead of time what signs and symptoms could indicate transmission problems.

Identifying Mx5 Part Problems: Transmission Failure Signs and Symptoms

• Burning Fluid- The smell of burning transmission fluid is distinctive and not-too-pleasant. This often means that the transmission is overheating and the transmission fluid is no longer helping to cool down the transmission or lubricate its car parts. This is often caused by dirty or low transmission fluid. It can also indicate you have a leak.

• Noisy in Neutral- Most people think that putting a car in neutral means it is safe from anything that could potentially endanger car parts. The problem is, when it comes to the transmission this is not the case. Weird noises that occur when the car is in neutral can indicate a variety of problems, from the inexpensive and simple to the expensive and serious. It could mean that the transmission fluid needs replacing or that the engine oil needs changed. However, it could also indicate problems with Mx5 parts, like the reverse idler gear, bearings, or gear teeth. This mechanical wear is serious and will need to be fixed immediately.

• Gears Slipping- What would you do if you were driving down the road with your Mx5 in fifth gear and it suddenly slipped into neutral? At the least this would be unnerving; at the most, this could be very dangerous. This can be caused by a variety of problems- all of which are related to the transmission.

• Dragging Clutch- A dragging clutch is often accompanied by a grinding noise that makes it almost impossible to ignore. This transmission issue means that the clutch doesn’t disengage when you raise your foot off of it, so it keeps spinning with the engine. It typically isn’t that costly to fix, and generally just means that the clutch pedal has too much slack and not enough leverage to disengage.

• Leaks- Leaking transmission fluid is one of the most obvious indicators that something is wrong with the engine. You may notice a puddle of red, clear, sweet-smelling fluid in your driveway or you may check the transmission fluid and notice it is low; both of the signs indicate a leak and require immediate attention. Remember, transmissions need fluid for lubrication and cooling.

• Check Engine Light- While the check engine light can come on for numerous reasons that have nothing to do with your transmission, they can also serve as an early warning sign that something might be wrong. Always have this indicator checked when you see it. It could be a warning you that something is wrong with your transmission before it becomes bad enough for you to feel or see it.

Is your transmission trying to tell you something? Keep your Mx5 parts road-ready by paying attention to the warning signs and symptoms that something might be wrong with your transmission.