Car Acting Up This Spring? 3 Ways You May Have Harmed Your Transmission And What To Do

Does your "check engine" light come on when you start your car but you have no idea why? Or, can you tell something is wrong with your vehicle by the way it is acting that just doesn't feel right? You are likely debating what could be wrong with your car while you procrastinate making that inevitable trip to the body shop. You can help determine if the problem may be your transmission if any of the following describes something you did this past winter. 

1. You Got Your Car Stuck in the Snow or Mud and Tried to "Rock" Yourself Out

When your car becomes stuck in the snow on a cold morning when you need to get to work or in the mud when a sudden warm day occurs after a large snowfall, you can do things that you know you shouldn't and then forget about them. In an attempt to get your car unstuck and get to work or where you needed to go, you may have rocked your car by shifting forward and backward. 

This not only probably did not get you unstuck, but it may have damaged your transmission by overheating it. 

2. You Added the Wrong Transmission Fluid to Your Vehicle

Changing or topping up your transmission fluid over the winter is usually a great way to keep your car in great shape. However, if you added the wrong type of transmission fluid into your tank, then you may now just be realizing the toll it is taking on it. 

Using the wrong transmission fluid can be very detrimental to your vehicle. If it was close enough in formula to what your vehicle actually takes, then it wouldn't be unusual for the signs of damage to finally start showing now. If you suspect you may have used the wrong fluid, then take your vehicle into a body shop to have the fluid flushed and see if your car can be repaired. The longer you wait, the more damage you will do to your car. 

3. You Didn't Check Your Transmission Fluid Level over the Winter

Speaking of transmission fluid, if you know you didn't put the wrong fluid in it this winter, because you didn't put any in it at all, then a too-low fluid level could be causing your problems. If you transmission fluid drops too low, then it cannot lubricate the components it needs to, which causes parts to scrape together that shouldn't. Instead of filling the fluid right away, it is be a better idea to take your car to the closest repair shop to make sure any damage that occurred due to low transmission fluid levels is repaired and have your fluid flushed and changed. 

If your vehicle is showing signs that is needs transmission repair, then check to see if any of the above scenarios apply to you, so you have an idea what may be wrong with your car. Then, get your vehicle to the closest repair shop for a proper diagnosis and repair of the auto problem you are facing.