Apr 15, 2022

Your Toyota’s transmission works harder than any other component in your vehicle. This complex piece of engineering is designed to convert the raw power of your engine into polished precision. This conversion of uncontrolled to controlled power is brought about by the system of gears inside the transmission. The constant work and huge amount of parts mean your transmission can suffer damage. If you need a transmission repair, your Toyota dealer in Rochester, MN can help you.

Signs You Need a Transmission Repair at Your Toyota Dealer

Strange Sounds From the Transmission

When your transmission is working correctly, you won’t hear any sound. Buzzing, whining, or clunking sounds from the engine compartment mean that something is malfunctioning. These sounds may not necessarily be related to your transmission, but they do need to be investigated. If you’re experiencing strange behavior from the transmission, however, that would be the first place to look.

If your automatic transmission is suffering, one of the first signs is a buzzing sound. This sound will grow progressively worse and will turn into an annoying whining sound. The usual cause of this sound is a lack of transmission fluid, but there may be a deeper issue that our technicians will need to check. Clunking sounds are the equivalent of noises made by a manual transmission. Manual transmissions always make harsher sounds than automatic ones.

Shaking and Grinding From the Transmission

Another early sign of a transmission problem is a shaking feeling with the transmission changing gears. You may notice a slight hesitation between your transmission shifting gears and the new gear engaging. This problem will become worse and more jarring if it’s not corrected. Some of the causes are a lack of transmission fluid or a problem with your transmission computer.

Manual transmissions are quite rare these days. If you have a manual transmission and experience a grinding sound when you change the gears, there’s a transmission problem. Worn gear teeth, a lack of transmission fluid, or a loose transmission or engine mount could cause the noise. Our technicians will diagnose and repair the problem.

Transmission Leak

The hundreds of constantly moving parts in your engine need to be protected from damaging each other. The purpose of transmission fluid is to lubricate the various parts and provide a friction barrier between them to reduce wear and tear. This fluid also helps to reduce the temperature in transmission and to provide the hydraulic power to allow your gears to shift easily.

Transmission fluid, unlike engine oil, is not used up as the transmission works. This fluid is bright or dark red, and a puddle of this fluid under your car means there’s a transmission leak. The leak could come from a damaged seal or gasket or a worn transmission pan. Our technicians will trace the source of the leak and fix it.

Transmission faults are relatively inexpensive if they’re repaired in the early stages of the problem. If you have doubts about your transmission health, call us at Rochester Toyota.