What Causes Car Transmission Noise?
2 Answers
Car transmission noise can be caused by: 1. Worn or damaged bearings; 2. Loose transmission housing bolts; 3. Excessive clearance between the gearshift lever and shift fork groove in the transmission; 4. Long overdue transmission fluid change; 5. Use of inferior automatic transmission fluid; 6. Gear meshing clearance issues; 7. Gear tooth surface metal peeling, tooth breakage, or misalignment during assembly; 8. Water ingress into the transmission without timely repair. The transmission is a mechanism used to alter the speed and torque from the engine, capable of fixed or stepped changes in the transmission ratio between the output and input shafts. It is categorized into stepped transmissions, continuously variable transmissions, and integrated transmissions.
Transmission noise is a real headache. In my twenty years of driving, I've seen plenty of similar cases. The sound could be caused by insufficient or degraded oil leading to increased friction between parts, especially in older vehicles. A clunking noise when shifting gears indicates gear wear; noise when accelerating might point to loose bearings; and sounds in neutral could suggest clutch issues. Driving habits play a big role too – frequent hard acceleration and braking accelerate wear. When I encounter this, I first check the oil level. If it's black or smells burnt, change it immediately. Faulty sensors can also cause the transmission to act up and make noise. Get it checked early at a repair shop with computer diagnostics to avoid costly major repairs later. For regular maintenance, it's best to change transmission fluid every 50,000 kilometers and drive gently.
