You are backing out of your driveway when you notice something on the ground, a reddish-brown patch of something. You are not sure what it is, but you know it came from your car, and the possibility of car problems fills you with dread. This is more-than-likely is a transmission fluid leak which, while not fun to deal with, does not signal total disaster. Transmission leaks can be determined by the stains left on the driveway, where the car was parked, and by low levels of transmission fluids.
While determining the problem can be fairly easy, determining the cause may take your mechanic some inspecting. Here are four of the most common causes of a transmission leak in a car.
1. There Are Broken Seals
Transmission seals tend to get exposed to high temperatures while you are driving. So, it makes sense that over time they begin to experience wear and tear. Unfortunately however, because they are only made of either rubber or metal, at some point they are likely to break. Which is what leads to some transmission leaks.
2. Cracked Fluid Line
The transmission is made up of a ton of different parts, and one of them is the fluid line. This is what the transmission fluid actually runs through when working, and it is usually made of aluminum or steel. Which would usually mean that the likelihood of it breaking is pretty much nonexistent. But, like with everything, breaks are always a possibility. When it comes to the fluid line, a break can occur when debris begins to build up, or if the line gets overheated.
3. A Leaky Torque Pump
A leaky torque pump is something that will only affect people who drive an automatic. This is because while manual cars are connected to the transmission via the clutch, automatic cars rely on a device known as a torque converter to help the transmission work. The torque is where all the transmission fluid goes through, so the pump is cracked and leaking, it will cause some obvious problems.
4. A Faulty Installation of a Transmission Pan
Transmission pans, like torque converters, are found only in cars with automatic transmissions. One of the most important jobs of a transmission pan is to keep transmission fluids from leaking. However, if it does not get installed correctly, or gets broken, leaks can occur. When checking for fault installation, your mechanic will examine the bolts and screws that are supposed to hold it in place. If that happens to be the problem, then they can take it off and reinstall it properly to fix the problem.
Transmission leaks can be a little scary when you have no idea what the cause could be, but these are some of the most common possibilities. If you have a transmission leak, do not waste any time; get your car looked at immediately. Like with many things related to your car when you wait, the problem can only get worse.