Dip the tip of your index finger into the fluid on the dipstick and rub the fluid between your finger and the tip of your thumb. The transmission fluid on the dipstick should be pinkish and almost clear. If it looks or smells burnt or has particles in it, have a mechanic drain and change the fluid.

Leave car in neutral or park. Let engine warm up and continue to run throughout operation unless vehicle’s owner’s manual says otherwise. (Be aware that some automatic transmission fluid levels are checked with the engine off. Remove automatic transmission fluid dipstick.

This transmission it is hard to read the transmission fluid level. It is checked with the engine running. Clean off the dipstick, run the engine and put the dipstick in the dipstick tube and with draw immediately and see what the level reads.

Transmission Fluid Leakage: Adding too much fluid will cause high pressure inside of your transmission. This is very bad and could cause your transmission to start leaking fluid everywhere. This can cause wear and tear on your transmission and damage the system in the long run.

A malfunctioning sensor, low tire pressure, low transmission fluid and so much more will cause the light to come on. But some reasons the check engine light comes on are much more common.

5 Signs That Your Car Needs a Transmission Flush

1. Transmission Grinding or Strange Noises.
2. Problems Shifting Gears.
3. Slipping Gears.
4. Surging of the Vehicle.
5. Delay in Vehicle Movement.

Mostly, the average time it takes to change the fluid in a transmission it 1 hour. However, because some of the newer vehicles are built differently, they don’t require a fluid change as often as older models, so be sure to read the owner’s manual or ask your mechanic for professional advice about transmission service.

Low fluid levels can cause gears to miss, which will result in a grinding sensation. The occasional slipped gear might seem like a small issue at first, but it’s always a good idea to have the transmission looked at when this occurs to avoid costly repairs in the future.

6 Signs Your Car Needs Transmission Service

1. Grinding or Squealing Noise. Do you hear a mechanical, metal on metal grinding or squealing noise as your car shifts?
2. Burning Smell While Shifting.
3. Popping Out of Gear.
4. Erratic Shifting.
5. Delayed Shifting.
6. Transmission Fluid Leak.

1. Start with the easiest fix.
2. Worn fluid equals poor shift quality.
3. Be aware of “adaptive” transmissions.
4. Your transmission fluid’s frictional properties are vital to best performance.
5. Cold weather can reduce shift quality.