If you have noticed your car is having trouble shifting from one gear to another, you may suspect that you have a problem with your transmission. However, you may not be certain if the trouble has an easy fix, or if the transmission needs a major overhaul. If so, use your nose to sniff out the problem to help you diagnose the cause.

Sickly Sweet Odor With A Small Amount Of Smoke

If you see a small amount of smoke rolling out from under your hood and smell a sickly, sweet odor, the transmission may have a leak. When this happens, transmission fluid spills out onto the engine. While it burns, it develops a strong, distinct smell.

When the fluid is leaking, the level becomes too low to properly lubricate the gears inside the transmission. If left this way too long, the gears will eventually seize up, requiring you to replace the transmission.

To check the fluid levels, locate the dipstick on top of the transmission. If you are unsure if you have the correct one, look at the color of the fluid. If you see red, you know you have the right one, since the transmission fluid is dyed a bright red to differentiate it from other vehicle fluids.

After reading the level, add more fluid if it is low and drive your car to see if there is any improvement in its performance. If not, you may need to have a professional look at your car's transmission.

Metallic Smell When The Transmission Is Shifting Gears

While the car is shifting gears, you may detect a metallic smell. If this is also accompanied by a grinding noise, the gears may be worn out. Or, the bearings inside the transmission may have started to deteriorate. 

As the gears or bearings wear down, they are no longer able to engage each other when the transmission attempts to shift gears. They may also become misaligned, causing more wear and tear on the gears each time the transmission shifts.

If you think this could be the cause of the problem, take your vehicle to a repair service as soon as possible. The gears or bearings need to be replaced before they wear down completely, causing your transmission to break down and require replacement.

If you are unsure of the type of odor coming from your transmission, or you smell a combination of the above, you may want to take your vehicle to an authorized transmission repair service like S & A Transmission. They can then diagnose the issue and give you options on how to proceed, from making minor repairs to replacing the transmission.