If you could describe the Landrover in one word, it would have to be “tough”.
That said, even the toughest car is likely to wear out its components over enough time. It’s our job, as car owners, to make sure we monitor, maintain, and repair all of the parts of our vehicles that make us safe and keep our wheels on the road.
Especially when it comes to your transmission.
Join us, today, as we take a closer look at what makes up your Landrover transmission, and how to diagnose and keep it in the best shape possible.
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Signs You Need to Check Your Landrover Transmission
Having any part of your car give out while driving can be a scary experience. Unfortunately, transmissions are no different.
While it’s hard to predict what would happen to your unique car in the event of your transmission failing, one thing is for certain. It will almost certainly start with you being unable to accelerate anymore. Out on the highway, or in a tight corner in the city, you can see where this might be a problem.
That’s not to mention the risk of your wheels locking up. If your transmission fails, the best you can ask for is that the car lightly rolls to a halt, somewhere. In cases where the wheels and the steering lock up, however, your car may roll or even flip, depending on how fast you’re going.
You need to make sure you’re as prepared as you can be.
Sounds
As with so many other issues on a car, the most obvious warning sign of transmission trouble with your Landrover is the way it sounds.
This is actually a good tip for any car but aim to learn how you Landrover sounds during normal use, and pay attention when it stops sounding that way. While you can’t bring your car to a mechanic every time it gets a little louder than usual, you’ll know a warning sound when you hear it.
There are specifics to look out for, of course. In manual transmissions, a telltale warning sign is an abrupt grinding noise when shifting gears. If your Landrover is automatic, the smooth transition from one gear to the next might be replaced by a “shimmy”, instead.
A grinding noise while engaging your clutch-and-shift could mean a worn clutch, or that your gear synchronizers are damaged. Whatever the case, if you pay attention to the noises your car makes, you can preempt transmission issues before they become a real problem.
Problems With Shifting
Of course, if suspicious noises are a sign your car needs transmission work, an even better sign of the same thing is problems changing gears.
Your car’s transmission is designed to ensure the right amount of power goes to your wheels while you’re driving at any specific speed. The foundation of its ability to do this is in briefly disengaging from the engine each time your car shifts up or down a gear.
If you’re having transmission problems, your car’s ability to do this will be compromised. Pay attention to clunking sounds, and be wary of hard shifts. These are some of the early signs of failure. From here, your acceleration might become delayed, as might your steering and movement.
As always, the sooner you can pick up on a Landrover transmission issue, the better your chances of fixing it before it becomes much worse.
Check Engine Light
Now, hear us out.
The check engine light might be one of the most obvious signs that anything’s wrong with your car, but you might be surprised how often people ignore it.
The secret is in your car’s sensors. Engines are designed to detect issues with your transmission and relay that information back to your car’s warning lights. Modern cars are better at detecting problems, measuring vibrations, temperature, and other issues. These are the kinds of warning signs that indicate problems you wouldn’t otherwise be able to feel or hear, unassisted.
While many people write off their car’s warning lights, it’s still the most direct connection between you and your transmission. Don’t delay getting your car serviced when you notice the check engine light.
Learn your dashboard lights, or follow them up immediately after you notice them. Depending on the warning, always consider having your Landrover looked over when notice a warning light.
Stains and Leaks
If you aren’t afraid of getting down on the ground, leaks and stains under your Landrover are a great warning sign for transmission issues.
Transmission fluid doesn’t burn up the way engine oil does. When it runs low, it’s almost always a sign of a leak. Some common reasons for a transmission fluid leak include:
- recent services and part replacement
- a worn seal or degraded gasket
- bell housings
- leakages in the loose transmission pan/pan
- drive shafts becoming out of balance
- forward axles becoming worn, or problems with the engine or transmission mount
Luckily for us, spotting a leak, transmission fluid is typically red with a sweet or tart smell. The easiest way to spot a leaking transmission is to park somewhere clean or to park on a tarp for a few days and to simply look at the area under your car. Check for yellowed or brown stains where you usually park.
Also be sure to check the levels on your transmission fluid dipstick, as well as the color of the fluid itself. Darker fluid means your transmission is running too hot.
Get Your Landrover Transmission Checked, and Invest in Your Safety
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what car you drive. What matters is that you’re safe while you drive it.
With the kind of wear and tear that comes from regular driving, any number of components might end up being the first to fail. Hopefully, though, with our guide, your Landrover transmission isn’t one of them.
Interested in learning more about repairing your car and maintaining your components? Check out some of our repair manuals or get in touch with a live mechanic with your questions, today.
