The transmission is one of the most important components of a car--and also one of the most poorly understood. Unfortunately, that means that people often fail to interpret the warning signs that something is going wrong with their transmission. If you would like to increase your automotive knowledge base, read on. This article will present three common symptoms of transmission trouble.

No Response

Perhaps the most easily noticed signs of transmission trouble is a car that either hesitates or outright refuses to go into gear. This is applicable for both automatic and manual transmissions. In automatic cars, there will often be a delay of several seconds between when you shift into drive and when the gear actually engages and the car begins to move.

In cars with manual transmissions, the same problem often occurs, with the car hesitating before starting to move. Here you may also notice that the engine tends to surge after you have switched into gear. This sound may persist even once the gear has engaged. It is often described as sounding like the engine is spinning much faster than the car is actually moving.

Leaking Fluid

Leaks are another important sign that your transmission may be facing serious problems. Without sufficient transmission fluid, your entire engine is at risk of seizing up and ceasing to work altogether. Fresh transmission fluid has a bright red color and a sweetish odor, making it easy to identify. Older fluid may appear brown or even black, and will have a burned smell to it.

If you have spotted fresh fluid on the floor of your garage or driveway, the problem can likely be fixed by having a professional identifying and plugging up the leak location. If the leaking fluid appears to be older, it may be necessary to have a flush performed. In either case, check your transmission fluid dipstick and add more fluid if it's low, then take your car to a certified mechanic as soon as possible.

Car Slips Out Of Gear

A transmission in good repair should always remain in gear--that is, unless either you or the computer that controls an automatic transmission decide it is time to change. If your transmission has recently begun to slip out of gear--either shifting to another gear or into neutral--you have a serious problem on your hands. Often this is an indication that the linkage responsible for holding your gears in place is broken or excessively worn.

Contact a transmission repair service for more help.