What are the signs of a failing CVT transmission?
2 Answers
CVT transmission is about to fail when there is continuous shaking, transmission slippage during rapid acceleration, and a significant drop in vehicle power. The following are detailed explanations of the above signs: Continuous shaking of the transmission: This phenomenon is mainly caused by wear of the lock-up clutch, which serves to buffer the power connection. Therefore, wear of the lock-up clutch will cause the vehicle to shake. Transmission slippage during rapid acceleration: This issue is primarily due to wear of the steel belt, which is responsible for transmitting power. If the steel belt is severely worn, it will continuously slip inside the transmission. Significant drop in vehicle power: When the friction plates and steel plates are severely worn, the vehicle's power will decrease due to slippage, resulting in poor power performance.
I've been driving a CVT car for almost 8 years for daily commuting and have summarized some warning signs before failure: The engine RPM suddenly surges during acceleration but the speed doesn't catch up, as if the wheels are spinning and slipping - this is the most common symptom; noticeable jerking and shaking when driving on mountain roads or carrying heavy loads, making the car feel unstable; strange clicking or buzzing noises from the transmission area during startup or stopping, getting louder over time; and when the temperature gauge shows overheating or warning lights appear on the dashboard, indicating cooling system issues. Once I delayed repairs and the transmission completely locked up, costing over ten thousand to fix. So when these signs appear, immediately get it checked at a reliable shop, and regular transmission fluid changes can prevent major troubles.
