Watch for leaks or stains from under your car. If you see a constant red oil leak and you have confirmed that your vehicle is the source, you should have it checked out to see if it’s coming from the transmission or power steering.
Heat kills transmissions. The hotter your car is running, the more likely it is to damage parts of the transmission. The ideal temperature for your transmission is between 175 and 225 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you have a manual transmission, it is much more difficult to check the fluid level than it is on an automatic transmission, as it is usually at the fill plug. If you do not know what you are doing, you can accidentally drain out all the fluid.
Have you ever heard of a dog gear? This isn't a mechanical pet, but a key part of your transmission. When you (or your computer) select a gear for your car, the dog gear will slide over the end of that gear. This links it to the output shaft of the transmission to move your wheels.
In an ideal situation, we would like to see you bring your vehicles in to us every two years to have your fluids and filters changed. If you spend more time on the road, though, you should bring it in every 24,000 miles.
Do the gears on your manual transmission grind when you try to shift? This could be caused by a number of factors, including a clutch that needs to be adjusted or damaged/worn out synchronizers. Whatever the cause, a transmission expert can fix it.
