Difficulty changing transmission gears should be taken seriously. Typically, when it is hard to change gears it can indicate a larger issue. Bigger issues can involve leaking/dirty transmission fluid, bad shifter cable, failing solenoids, manual transmission problems, or failing transmission. Overall, a shifting problem is an indicator of an issue with your clutch or transmission.
1.Leaking/Dirty Transmission Fluid Take your car to a transmission expert, if you spot that your car is leaking fluid. Transmissions are a sealed system and require transmission fluid to function properly. Leaking transmission fluid is a sign that a gasket or seal is worn out. Low transmission fluid can cause severe damage to the transmission system. Dirty, contaminated transmission fluid can be just as damaging to a transmission. A good guide is to replace your transmission filter when needed and to get a professional transmission fluid change every 100,000 miles.
2.Bad Shifter Cable In some car models, they use shifter cables as a part of the car transmission and over time the cables can stretch or even break. If a shifter cable is stretched, it can result in difficulty in shifting gears, because the indicator needle may not line up with the correct gear.
3.Failing Transmission Solenoids Transmission solenoids control the flow of transmission fluid. Like other transmission parts, solenoids can wear out over time. If the transmission fluid is not flowing properly, you may notice that shifting gears is difficult.
4. Manual Transmission Problems If your car is a manual transmission, your clutch may be failing when you experience difficulty shifting. Along with difficulty shifting, your clutch pedal may feel spongy. The clutch fail may be due to shifting gears without completely release your foot from the clutch pedal, accelerating frequently, gear synchronizers are worn out, or a hydraulic fluid leak.
5.Failing Transmission Once a car reaches around 100,000 miles, the transmission parts can begin to wear out. Symptoms of a failing transmission may include a grinding, humming, or clunking noise. The best way to diagnose a failing transmission is to bring it to a transmission shop for the professional technicians to accurately diagnose and check for code errors.
Regardless of what is causing your shifting problem, it is wise to bring in to transmission expert for it to get checked and diagnosed. Difficulty shifting problems can lead to complete transmission failure if the symptoms get ignored or delayed from fixing.
If you are experiencing any of these problems then bring your vehicle to a place the specializes in repairing transmissions like Eagle Transmission Shop in Mesquite Serving the Entire Dallas / Fort Worth area including Garland Tx and Gun Barrel City.