The automatic transmission is not one of the most reliable devices in the car and therefore needs to be checked regularly. Having found faults, the owner of the car must eliminate them as quickly as possible. Determining the state of the automatic transmission may also be required during a preliminary inspection of the car before purchasing.
Instructions
Step 1
Check the quality of the transmission fluid. It should be clean and light, with no obvious sediment. Sludge from steel and aluminum shavings can indicate a very poor condition of the automatic transmission. Please note: only a very small, insignificant amount of chips is permissible, since they may end up in the transmission fluid after the components have been running in.
Step 2
Look for plastic chips in the filter. Its presence may indicate a malfunction of the plain bearings or gears. As a result, the filter becomes clogged, the flow of transmission fluid is sharply reduced and the automatic transmission fails. The most alarming sign is the black color of the oil and the strong burning smell emanating from it. In this case, most likely, you will have to contact the service center for the overhaul of the automatic transmission.
Step 3
Calculate the average gear change time. When converting from N to R or D, the car must react very quickly. A delay of more than 1.5 seconds indicates serious automatic transmission malfunctions, the elimination of which must be addressed as early as possible. Do not hesitate with the repair: firstly, if you do it on time, without waiting for the gearbox to fail, it will cost you less; secondly, driving in such cases can lead to an accident.
Step 4
Pay attention to the gear shifting process. It should not be accompanied by extraneous sounds: grinding, noise, sharp knocking, etc. The presence of vibrations and strong shocks is also unacceptable. Please note: we are talking only about very strong, sharp jolts, but not about soft and smooth ones!
Step 5
Estimate the change in engine speed. If, when changing gear, it increases too sharply, disproportionate to acceleration, then the automatic transmission needs careful diagnosis and repair.
Step 6
If you have doubts about the serviceability of the automatic transmission of your car, contact the service center. Experienced mechanics will diagnose and tell you what condition the automatic transmission is in and whether repair or replacement is required.
