• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

Fatherhood Factor

For all the "dealings" of dads...

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Guest Post?
  • Review?
  • Stats
The Most Common Causes of Transmission Failure

The Most Common Causes of Transmission Failure

May 14, 2021 By Emily Joswiak Leave a Comment

If there are two words you don’t want to hear when taking your vehicle in to the mechanic, they are “transmission failure.” Few vehicle issues are more difficult and expensive to resolve. To avoid having to pay several thousands of dollars on a transmission rebuild or replacement, you need to prevent this costly problem from occurring in the first place. Below, we’ll address some of the most common causes of transmission failure so that you can take measures to avoid them.

Transmission Fluid Leaks

One of the top causes of transmission failure is the occurrence of transmission fluid leaks. Transmission fluid serves the important purpose of lubricating the moving parts of the transmission and protecting its surfaces from wear. If a leak occurs, the transmission won’t have an ample amount of fluid to provide lubrication. From there, friction will start to build up between the metal parts.

In addition to causing premature wear and tear, such friction will produce excess heat, which could cause the transmission to fail. To prevent a small leak from destroying your transmission, make sure to check your transmission fluid levels regularly. Since it doesn’t use up the fluid, low levels will indicate leak somewhere in the system.

Contaminated Transmission Fluid

In addition to low fluid levels, contaminated transmission fluid can also result in issues. Over time, fluid can become burned or contaminated with dust, flecks of metal, and other debris. In such cases, it won’t flow through the system properly, and excess friction and overheating may occur.

To prevent transmission failure, make sure to check the quality of your fluid regularly. If it appears discolored (it should have a translucent pinkish color) or has particles floating around inside it, you should have it changed. To further prevent any issues, you should also replace your transmission filter regularly.

Torque Converter Problems

Another one of the most common causes of transmission failure is a torque converter problem. A torque converter transfers rotating power from the engine to the transmission and then to the vehicle’s drive wheels. In addition, it also has a hydraulic pump that produces pressure that helps propel transmission fluid throughout the entire transmission. 

If the needle bearing on the torque converter wears down or becomes damaged, the converter may stop working properly. As a result, it won’t pump fluid throughout the transmission as it should, and the system will likely overheat and break down. To catch any torque converter problems before they result in a transmission failure, keep an eye out for common warning signs, such as whining noises, shuddering, gear slipping, or an inability to accelerate.

About Emily Joswiak

Emily is a writer, marketer, and purveyor of all things family. She loves to help people find their way, especially through the written word.

Get Our Newsletter

Don’t you wish you knew the secret to Fatherhood? Us too...
Our content ranges from practical tips to product reviews.
Enter your information below to get our newsletter goodness!

Copyright © 2009–2022 FatherhoodFactor.com · Powered by: LaunchBlot Media, LLC

  • Facebook.
  • Twitter.
  • Instagram.
  • YouTube.
  • LinkedIn.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT