Signs Your Vehicle Is Low on Transmission Fluid

Do you smell a burning odor or hear strange noises in your car? It could be the transmission fluid. Learn the signs your car is low on transmission fluid here.

The transmission fluid is integral to your vehicle’s transmission system, as it makes shifting gears comfortable and easy. But if your vehicle runs low on transmission fluid due to a leak or other issue, it’ll cause problems. Watch out for these signs your vehicle is low on transmission fluid.

Strange Noises

If your vehicle is low on transmission fluid, it can cause problems and even strange noises when changing gears. Ideally, your car shouldn’t make any unforeseen sounds while driving and changing gears. But if there’s a shortage of transmission fluid, it’ll affect the transmission and how smoothly it shifts gears.

Basically, the clutches and bands will rub together without the necessary lubricant and cause a loud and aggravating friction noise that drivers should hear when they change gears. If you notice your car making harsh noises when shifting, you should check it out immediately to avoid causing significant damage.

Burning Smell

Another sign your vehicle is low on transmission fluid is the presence of a burning smell. As with the sound, your car shouldn’t smell like anything while driving, especially not like it’s burning.

But a burning smell is a common symptom of a vehicle operating with low transmission fluid. The burning comes from the transmission fluid overheating when it drops below the sufficient fluid level. The transmission and friction components heat up and emit a burning smell while producing a strange noise. This is never a good sign for a car.

Stiff Clutch Pedal

If you have a manual transmission and the clutch pedal feels stiffer than usual, it could be due to the transmission fluid. Low transmission fluid is a common cause of a stiff clutch pedal, as the lack of lubricant grinds on the gears and bearings, making them more uncomfortable to shift.

A stiff clutch pedal should not go unnoticed because even if it’s not due the transmission fluid, another significant issue could be causing damage to your vehicle. If your clutch pedal stiffens unexpectedly, take it to a professional service center as soon as possible to avoid further damage to the clutch assembly.

Gear Slippage

A healthy vehicle with a viable transmission and enough fluid should change gears seamlessly. But if you’re driving and notice that your gears are starting to miss more often and grind, that could be due to the transmission fluid.

Gear slippage should rarely happen in a vehicle, but if it becomes a common occurrence for your vehicle, you should get it checked out immediately. Not only does gear slippage damage the vehicle, but it makes the car unsafe to drive. So don’t hesitate to bring it into the shop.