TROUBLESHOOTING BASIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS
Given proper maintenance and care, the automatic transmission will provide many miles of trouble-free operation. Most minor problems can be traced to fluid level; maintaining the proper fluid level will avoid these problems. Keeping alert to changes in the operation of the transmission (different shifting patterns, abnormal sounds, fluid leakage) can prevent small problems from becoming large ones.
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| The Problem | Is Caused By | What Needs to be Done |
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| Fluid leakage | Defective pan gasket | Have transmission checked |
| Loose filler tube | Have transmission checked | |
| Loose extension housing to transmission case | Have transmission checked | |
| Converter housing area leakage | Have transmission checked professionally | |
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| Fluid flows out the oil filler tube | High fluid level | Have transmission checked professionally |
| Breather vent clogged | Have transmission checked professionally | |
| Clogged oil filter or screen | Have transmission checked professionally | |
| Internal fluid leakage | Have transmission checked professionally | |
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| Transmission overheats (this is usually accompanied by a strong burned odor to the fluid) | Low fluid level | Have transmission checked professionally |
| Fluid cooler lines clogged | Have transmission checked professionally | |
| Heavy pulling or hauling with insufficient cooling | Have transmission checked professionally | |
| Faulty oil pump, internal slippage | Have transmission checked professionally | |
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| Buzzing or whining noise | Low fluid level | Have transmission checked professionally |
| Defective torque converter, scored gears | Have transmission checked professionally | |
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| No forward or reverse gears or slippage in one or more gears | Low fluid level | Have transmission checked professionally |
| Defective vacuum or linkage controls, internal clutch or band failure | Have transmission checked professionally | |
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| Delayed or erratic shift | Low fluid level | Have transmission checked professionally |
| Broken vacuum lines | Have transmission checked professionally | |
| Internal malfunction | Have transmission checked professionally | |