{"id":625,"date":"2019-07-29T02:30:27","date_gmt":"2019-07-29T09:30:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drivinglife.net\/?p=625"},"modified":"2022-12-21T07:15:06","modified_gmt":"2022-12-21T15:15:06","slug":"transmission-shifts-hard-when-hot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drivinglife.net\/transmission-shifts-hard-when-hot\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Is My Transmission Shifts Hard When Hot?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A vehicle’s transmission is able to transfer power from the engine to the car’s tires. Its main purpose is to control the speed at which the tires turn. It controls the power that flows from the engine to the driveshaft. This particular part of your car goes through quite a bit of stress, just like many engine parts of the car. The stress is due to the friction and heat generated because of the movement of different components.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transmissions shift hard when hot because their parts tend to get damaged, worn, and malfunction under high heat levels. Your transmission needs fluid to keep cool, and if the fluid leaks, then it may create more heat and pressure. The fluid may thicken and get burnt, and then it no longer functions to cool and lubricate, making the transmission shift hard. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There could be several reasons for hard shifting, but a hot transmission may be one of the leading causes. To find out what problem you have with your transmission, we’ll take a look at some common issues that lead to higher levels of heat and pressure in a transmission. Avoiding replacing the transmission may be important to you because it is quite expensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Some of the Most Common Transmission Problems<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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1. Low or Leaking Fluid<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Whenever there is a leak, it can start damaging the transmission. Leaking transmission fluid<\/strong> is among the most common reasons (heat<\/strong>) behind transmission breakdown. Automatic transmission fluid<\/a> (ATF) cleans, lubricates, and seals the transmission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Checking the fluid level regularly (unless you have a sealed transmission<\/strong>) and changing it when the owner’s manual says it will help prevent problems later. If you suspect a leak, find where it is leaking from (possibly because of a damaged seal) and get help fixing it or replacing the damaged seal yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reduced amounts of transmission fluid (or not changing the fluid) can create unhealthy conditions for your transmission. Look for<\/strong> dark\/burnt fluid when checking the fluid levels. If the fluid is light brownish<\/strong> or dark brown\/black<\/strong>, it needs to be replaced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Try wiping the fluid on a white paper towel to see what color it is. If you notice a pinkish color<\/strong>, then it’s still in good condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have a leak, try to fix it right away. If the color is dark, try to replace it right away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Warning<\/strong>: If your car ran with burnt transmission fluid<\/strong> or low fluid for a while, the damage probably occurred to the clutch, even if you never noticed it. Changing the transmission fluid will clean out particles that may have filled in the gaps of a worn-out clutch. The clutch will then start to slip because the particles aren’t there to help grip. You’ll need to replace the clutch parts that are worn and anything else that may have been damaged.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, it is recommended to fill or replace the transmission fluid when needed. Fix any leaks or damage using a professional unless you’ve got the skills needed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2. The Slipping of Gears<\/h3>\n\n\n
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The automatic transmission<\/a> makes use of a series of gears that help transfer the right amount of power for speed, climbing hills, and going in reverse. A gear set<\/strong> consists of multiple small gears. Usually, it has a sun gear at the center and three planet gears around the sun gear, and a ring gear surrounding the planets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the transmission changes from one gear set to another, a shift is performed. The shift can be automatic or manual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the transmission slips, then the gears are not engaged. It may seem like you’re neutral. The reason may be because of a worn clutch or low hydraulic pressure. To find out more, check the issues we talked about, reason 1 above. Also, avoid driving<\/strong> with a slipping clutch since accidents could occur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3. Dragging Clutch<\/h3>\n\n\n
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A dragging clutch<\/strong> occurs when the clutch disk won’t separate all the way from the flywheel. Since it won’t disengage, changing gears will not work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This may happen when pressing the clutch pedal<\/strong> and the cable going to the transmission has too much slack. Adjusting the cable can fix this issue. If the clutch disk can’t move away from the flywheel, it will just continue to turn to provide torque to the gear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you hear a grinding noise<\/strong> every time you change the gears, this may be a dragging clutch that disengages almost all the way, but not quite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In some cars, the clutch only starts to drag when the transmission gets hot<\/strong>. This, too, is a cable adjustment issue usually. Repairing these issues is usually inexpensive unless damage has occurred. This quick fix involves adjusting the cable, so the clutch can separate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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4. Transmission Noisy in Neutral<\/h3>\n\n\n
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When a transmission is noisy in neutral<\/strong>, it might be time to consult a mechanic. Some of the possible reasons could be the transmission lost fluid and ran hot<\/strong>, causing damage to the clutch, using the incorrect transmission fluid<\/strong>, worn-out gears<\/strong>, or a bad release bearing.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n