My Check Engine Light Is On and My Car Isn’t Shifting Gears

If your check engine light is on and your car, truck, or utility vehicle is not shifting gears, there’s a problem with the automatic transmission. You would think that a system as important as the transmission would have a light of its own but it doesn’t. Rather, the engine control module turns on the check engine light when the transmission goes bad. This is just one sign that your automobile has transmission problems. Righteous Auto Care is going to list the other signs below.

Aside from refusing to shift the gears, the automatic transmission may also hesitate to shift through the gear cycle at the right time. It can also slip out of gear and into neutral by itself. These are indications that the automatic transmission is malfunctioning and needs service.

Another indication is shaking when the transmission shifts the gears. You should not notice any significant jolts when you put the transmission into gear or when the transmission shifts gears. If your vehicle shakes or vibrates, the transmission is going bad.

Strange noises in the transmission are also an indication of transmission trouble. Specifically, you may hear the transmission hum when it is in neutral, squeal all the time or sporadically, or grind when the transmission shifts the gears. It may also clunk into gear.

The noises and vibration aside, your automatic transmission can also overheat if the fluid level is too low. Your transmission fluid needs to be changed every 30,000 miles to ensure it is clean and there is plenty of fluid in the transmission. Low transmission fluid will overheat the transmission.

Naturally, if the transmission starts to leak the transmission fluid, it will get too low. Transmission fluid can leak out of the hoses, seals, and gaskets. It can also leak out of the torque converter or transmission pan. It’s important to get a transmission fluid leak repaired right away.

Finally, as we discussed above, there may come a point when your transmission refuses to shift gears because it has gone bad. The transmission may also fail to respond when you put it into gear. This is a sign that the transmission needs to be repaired, so have your vehicle towed to our shop.

Righteous Auto Care in Racine, WI, is here to help. Give us a call today if you suspect your automatic transmission is going bad.