Signs of Land Rover Transmission Failure from Experienced Mechanics in Real Redwood City

Land Rovers are vehicles that are built for all terrains, from dirt roads to city highways. No matter what type of road you are driving on, you expect your Land Rover to perform at its best. One part that is crucial in keeping up this performance is the transmission. The transmission is where the power comes from when changing gears. Without the transmission, the gears of your Land Rover will not shift and change as required. Below, let’s look at some keys signs that will point toward a failing transmission.

Fluid Leaks

The most common way that you will identify transmission failure is by spotting a fluid leak under your vehicle wherever it is parked. You may see a spot in the garage, driveway, or your parking space at work. You will be able to tell the leak is transmission fluid because it will be a reddish color, and it will have either a sweet or tart smell.

Identifying a transmission leak is simple. The transmission does not burn fluid as it is being used, so the amount of fluid in the transmission should always be at the same level. If you notice that there is a lack of fluid in the transmission, then you can attribute that to a leak. You should become familiar with the fluid level so you will have an easier time identifying it.

There are several reasons as to why the transmission in your Land Rover is leaking. The first is if you recently had service done on your Land Rover that required the cooler lines to be disconnected. If they were reattached incorrectly, then a leak could result. The second potential cause of a transmission leak is worn seals or gaskets and damaged ball housing. These parts are all crucial in keeping the transmission running properly, so if one or more of them is damaged then a leak could happen. The third reason why you may be experiencing a transmission fluid leak is due to a loose pan or if the pan itself is leaking.

Strange Smells

As previously mentioned, the fluid used in the transmission has a sweet or tart smell to it. So if you begin to smell a slight burning odor, then this could indicate that the transmission fluid needs to be changed. Keeping up to date with the fluid levels and having clean transmission fluid in your transmission is the single most important way to keep your transmission from failing.

If the fluid has a burning smell, then this means that not enough fluid is in the transmission and now it is burning itself up due to the lack of lubrication. Having burnt or burning fluid left in the transmission for an extended period of time can lead to a long and expensive transmission rebuild.

Odd Sounds and Vibrations

A third indicator that your Land Rover’s transmission has failed is odd sounds coming from it. These sounds differ depending on if you have a manual or automatic transmission. In a manual transmission, you will experience a grinding noise or feeling as you are shifting into another gear. One reason for this grinding noise is that the clutch may need to be replaced or adjusted if the noise is occurring when the clutch is fully engaged. The grinding could also indicate that there are some worn or damaged transmission gear synchronizers.

In an automatic transmission, if there is an issue, you will feel your Land Rover as it changes gears. It will put off a slight vibration as opposed to you not being able to feel the gear changes at all. In addition to this, there is the potential of hearing humming, whining, or buzzing sounds.

Repairing the Transmission

Keeping your Land Rover in the best shape is one of your top priorities. Cerrone’s European in Redwood City, CA is a family-owned garage, specializing in Land Rovers. Each of our mechanics pride themselves on keeping up to date on their training and certifications in order to provide you and your Land Rover with the best transmission care in our community. We look forward to becoming your trusted technicians for all your repair and maintenance needs. Call us today for an appointment or stop by and speak to one of our mechanics.