4 Common Reasons Your Car Won’t Start

One classic sign of transmission trouble is that gears are slipping. When a car suddenly jumps out of gear while driving, the problem could be that pollutants have built up in the transmission fluid to the point that the fluid can’t flow properly. Consequently, there’s not sufficient fluid pressure to keep the car in gear.

You’ll also want to keep an eye out for signs of transmission fluid leaks. Transmission fluid provides lubrication, fluid pressure, cooling, and rust prevention. This makes it highly important that you’re driving with the proper level of clean transmission fluid. One indication of a transmission fluid leak is that there’s reddish-colored fluid on the pavement where you parked your car. And if the fluid has a somewhat sweet scent, then you’ve got another sign that it’s transmission fluid. You might also have a transmission fluid leak if you check your fluid level and the transmission dipstick indicates a low reading. It’s a good idea to check your transmission fluid on a monthly basis. And if you’re driving with insufficient transmission fluid, then you may notice signs of trouble such as rough or delayed shifting.

If you drive a stick shift, you’ll want to watch out for signs of clutch failure. Oftentimes, issues related to the clutch pedal make drivers aware that something is wrong with the clutch. You should get to the shop if your clutch pedal is sticky, spongy, vibrating, or noisy. Other warning signs of a clutch problem include grinding gears and burning smells.