7 Warning Signs for Your Chevy Silverado’s Transmission

Your Chevy Silverado’s engine and transmission work together to create a power train that has a strong reputation for impressive towing capacity and highway driving. But if your power train isn’t living up to Chevy’s usual high standards, you may be dealing with a transmission problem that requires the attention of a certified technician. The team here at Granger Chevrolet has a wealth of experience in dealing with Silverado transmission problems. We’ve compiled a list of seven common signs of transmission trouble and some tips about how to resolve them.

What Is a Transmission?

Your vehicle’s transmission transfers the power produced by your engine to your wheels. More specifically, it shifts your engine’s power to the drive wheels, which turn your wheels to push your Chevy forward. In other words, a transmission that doesn’t work properly can bring your pickup to a halt.

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The type of transmission you have varies depending on your Silverado’s trim. The common transmissions in recent Silverado 1500 models are six-speed, eight-speed, and 10-speed automatic transmissions.

Modern transmissions consist of dozens of complex parts to create the hydraulic pressure necessary to change gears. While this makes for a smooth ride, it also means that you have to remain on the lookout for various signs of potential problems. Here are seven of the most common signs that your Silverado’s transmission may be on the way out.

Leaking Transmission Fluid

Transmission fluid plays a critical role in every transmission, ensuring that power moves smoothly from the engine to the wheels and that components don’t grind unnecessarily. Leaking fluid can quickly become a serious problem, exposing transmission parts to wear and tear, and reducing its performance.

Luckily, transmission fluid is a bright red color, making it easy for you to spot a leak. You should also regularly check your fluid levels to ensure they’re not too low. If your transmission fluid levels are low, a fluid top-up may do the trick. We can take care of this routine maintenance task here at Granger Chevrolet. Schedule your appointment today.

Dirty or Burnt Transmission Fluid

Another benefit to regularly checking your transmission fluid levels is that you’ll quickly notice if the fluid has been burnt or contaminated. You can tell this is the case if the fluid is very dark in color or thick in consistency. These signs may indicate that your transmission is overheating, or they could be caused by excessive friction between various components. The best way to get to the bottom of what’s contaminating your transmission fluid is to have a service technician examine your power train.

Shift Flares

An automatic transmission is designed to switch seamlessly into a higher gear as your speed increases. A shift flare occurs when your transmission fails to shift smoothly up through the gears. You may notice that your engine revs rise but your Chevy fails to accelerate at a corresponding speed.

When this problem initially develops, it may only arise occasionally. If you fail to attend to the issue, you may notice that shift flares happen repeatedly between the same two gears, such as second and third gears.

Hard DownShifts

These are the exact opposite of shift flares. A hard downshift occurs when your transmission fails to shift down to a lower gear as you ease up on the throttle. The result can be that the engine continues revving at an unnecessarily high rate, placing extra strain on it. One of the causes of hard downshifts, particularly in modern automatic transmissions like those found in the Silverado 1500, is the failure of a downshift solenoid. If this is the cause, you’re likely to see your Check Engine light come on.

Jolting or Whining Gear Changes

As we’ve already explained, automatic transmissions are supposed to shift smoothly through the gears. If you experience a jolting sensation in your pickup as you accelerate, this could be a sign that your transmission is playing up. If you hear a whining sound, this can indicate that some of your transmission’s components are rubbing against each other, which can cause serious damage.

Sounds When Your Chevy Is in Neutral

If you throw your truck into neutral after a hard day’s work, you shouldn’t hear any sounds from the transmission. That’s because there’s no power for it to transmit between the engine and the wheels. If you hear any clunking or groaning sounds while you’re in neutral, this may be a sign that your transmission requires a fluid top-up. Alternatively, it could indicate wear and tear on some components.

Pickup Won’t Shift Into Gear

This may sound like an obvious point, but if you fail to take note of your transmission’s warning signs, you may reach a point where your Silverado refuses to shift into gear. If this happens, you should immediately seek out a competent auto mechanic. The problem may only require some adjustment of physical components or a more extensive repair job.

Take Care of Your Silverado’s Transmission Servicing Needs at Granger Chevrolet in Orange

One of the most important takeaways for Chevy owners is that by the time your transmission displays any of the warning signs mentioned in our list, serious damage may have already occurred. That’s why it’s crucially important to stick to a regular schedule of routine maintenance. During a routine service inspection of your Silverado 1500, one of our certified technicians can examine your transmission to identify problems before they get serious. The price of a fluid top-up is a lot less than a major transmission repair, which can sometimes set you back thousands of dollars.

Should your Silverado 1500 require more extensive repairs, we can take care of those too. We’ll provide you with a transparent quotation for the work that’s required and ensure that our team carries out all repairs to the high standard you deserve.

To learn more about our auto service and repair center in Orange, don’t hesitate to contact us today. We’ve built up a great reputation by helping Texas customers keep their Chevy trucks on the road, and we’re looking forward to doing the same for you.