Your Kia’s transmission serves the essential function of transmitting power from your engine to your wheels. If you detect any kind of transmission problem, you should get it seen to promptly. Let’s take a look at 5 possible signs that you need to visit your local Kia dealer for transmission repair.
Leaking Transmission Fluid
The special fluid in your transmission system is vital for your car to work properly. It lubricates the gears and other mechanical parts, cools the system, prevents oxidation and rust, and conditions the gasket. If this fluid is leaking, you need to get it seen to immediately. Fortunately, it’s an easy problem to spot.
Any kind of transmission fluid leak will lead to a pool of reddish, sweet-smelling liquid under your car. You’ll notice it when you move away from parking. You can also glance under your Kia every now and then, just to check.
Slipping Gears
This one’s a rather disconcerting experience. If your gears start changing all on their own while you’re driving, you have a clear problem in your transmission, where the gears reside. This can happen when gears get worn down or rounded out over time.
Apart from gears changing all on their own, other indicators that your gears have slipped include delayed acceleration, harsh sounds when you try to shift gears, and revving during a gear change. If you notice any of these issues, it’s unwise to continue driving. For safety’s sake, you’ll need to call a tow truck.
Gears Not Changing
Another obvious sign of transmission trouble is if your vehicle simply refuses to change gears, or struggles hard to change gears. There’s no need to panic, this is usually caused by incorrect or low fluid. In which case, you just need to get it topped up.
Clutch Problems
The clutch is another important part of a manual transmission, allowing the engine to momentarily disengage from the driveshaft while you change gears. If your clutch has begun to wear out, you might experience clutch drag or clutch spin. Both of these require a visit to your local Kia dealer for a check-up.
A slipping clutch points to problems with the master cylinder, release system, or excess oil. You might experience slippage as a stiff clutch pedal, loud revving when you start moving or needing to downshift gears more often when going downhill. Dragging is when the clutch disc doesn’t properly disengage from the flywheel, as it should. Symptoms of clutch drag include movement while you’re starting, hard starting, difficulty shifting gears, and engine stalls.
Burning Smells
Don’t ignore any burning smells from your car. One cause might be your transmission fluid burning, perhaps from not being replaced frequently enough. The smell might also be from an overheating transmission, which could be caused by all kinds of issues. It’s best to get it checked out swiftly.
To have your transmission checked by qualified professionals, visit Crain Kia of Conway. We’re a family-owned dealership with family members on-site every day, ready to greet you and sort out your Kia purchasing and servicing needs, whatever they may be.
Image via Kia.
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