Cars are incredibly complex and technical machines that have to fit together just right in order to run at all, let alone well. Due to their great number of interconnected components, if one part in your engine experiences issues, it’s only a matter of time before another part is damaged as a result. Therefore, it’s in your best interest to keep to your maintenance and repair schedule so you catch issues early, especially in a vehicle as expensive as a Bentley.
The Importance of Your Transmission
One of the issues you need to properly maintain is the transmission. While transmission problems aren’t as common as an oil leak, they are inordinately more expensive to fix. Furthermore, if the problem isn’t immediately apparent, it’s easy for a small slip of the clutch to become a much larger problem. Therefore, it’s a wise idea to know what to look for in the event you suspect something is off about your vehicle.
Your transmission is responsible for changing the gears of your engine as you drive. An automatic transmission switches for you, while a manual transmission (stick shift) has to be manually shifted as you accelerate and decelerate. Without your transmission, your Bentley isn’t able to go anywhere, which makes transmission issues not only serious, but imperative to address.
Symptoms of a Failing Transmission
There are several signs that your transmission is getting ready to call it quits. However, if you don’t know what you’re looking for, some of these signs can be initially misdiagnosed.
Your Check Engine Light is On
If your check engine light illuminates, that’s a sign that there’s an issue somewhere in your engine. Your transmission can trip your check engine light if the sensors around your transmission pick up any unusual signs, but you won’t know for sure what they are until you hook your Bentley up to an OBD reader.
You Smell Something Burning
If your engine smells like it’s burning while you drive down the highway, it’s important that you get it into a mechanic as soon as possible, because the issue may be severe. The most common cause of a burning smell as a result of a failing transmission is that your transmission fluid is overheating. This can be caused by low fluid levels (which indicate a leak) and should be addressed immediately.
Your Gears Slip When You Shift
If your Bentley’s computer isn’t correctly communicating with your transmission, that can cause your gears to slip when you speed up, slow down, or shift. This is both a serious safety problem and a sign that something is wrong inside your engine.
Your Car Won’t Engage
If there is a delay when you try to shift your car into drive or reverse, or if your vehicle won’t engage at all, this is indicative of an issue with your transmission fluid. Over time, your fluid may become thick and sludge-like, which can hamper your Bentley’s performance. Other times, this is a sign that there is an electrical issue in your vehicle’s computer. Either way, it’s imperative that you bring your Bentley to a mechanic immediately, as the problem may be serious.
Loud Noises
Your engine should never start making loud noises, such as bumping, whining, humming, or clunking. If the issue is with your transmission, the problem could be that your transmission fluid is not circulating properly and pieces of your engine are grinding together. Alternatively, the issue may be a failure of your transmission itself, which is a much bigger and costlier issue.
Mark Douglas Motorworks is Here to Help
If you suspect that your Bentley is experiencing transmission issues of any kind, bring it by Mark Douglas Motorworks as soon as possible. We service the County area including Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Huntington Beach, Laguna Hills and Laguna Nigel, CA.
We offer affordable and exceptional service on high-end, luxury brands including Bentley, Ferrari, and Maserati. Our trained technicians are certified, qualified, and capable of ensuring that you’re back on the road quickly. Call us today.