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Major signs of trouble transmission solenoid

Major signs of trouble transmission solenoid

Solenoids are electro-hydraulic valves that control the transmission´s flow fluid. They are a very important component of the transmission that opens and closes according to electrical signals they receive from the vehicle's engine or transmission control unit and draws data from the engine speed sensors.

While the clutch controls when and how to shift gears in a manual transmission vehicle, the solenoids are part of the automatic transmission's complex system that performs the same task; therefore, a faulty solenoid can cause hydraulic system problems, leading to costly repairs.

Signs of automatic transmission solenoid failure are:

Delay in gear change

It happens when the transmission control unit is not receiving the correct information due to the solenoid failure, so it shifts very slowly, both upshift and downshift. The delay between shifting and starting the transmission may be more noticeable if it stays in park for a while and then you try to toggle the gear; Under normal conditions, the car should shift smoothly, but when the solenoid is damaged, the gear change is slow and with a knocking sensation. Also, on some occasions it is not possible to downshift and the engine continues to rev even after the brakes are applied.

Transmission stuck in neutral

This is a serious problem where the lever gets stuck in the neutral position and does not move into any gear. It is usually associated with a lack of transmission fluid, but it can also be a clear sign of solenoid failure.

Sudden gear changes

It is a situation that commonly occurs with a solenoid failure and causes the gear changes to "skip" and be perceived as abrupt or jerky when the car changes gear while driving.

“squeak” sound

If the transmission squeaks or shakes when shifting, it is a clear sign that the problem is in a solenoid, or that there are broken or misaligned parts in the transmission. When the starter solenoid is the one that fails, the screeching sound is heard when starting the engine.

Control module faults

Since automatic transmission solenoids are self-shifting, unlike a manual where the driver shifts, the transmission control unit is essential in order to quickly gather engine information as well as the tires revolutions per minute in order to calculate the precise moment in which the gear changes must be made. 

When the solenoid is damaged, the control unit will not be able to receive or send the information to the system, causing shifts to be made at inopportune or irrelevant times, or cause gear jumps.

Problems with speed reduction

Sometimes, when the solenoid is damaged, vehicles may have difficulty slowing down or accelerating after braking or being stopped at a red light.

What to do if these problems occur?

If you notice that your car is not making the changes properly or at the right time, you should take it to the mechanic for a check-up as soon as possible, since continuing to drive in these conditions is a safety risk for you and your vehicle.

Once the solenoid has been found to be failing or faulty by an OBD2 scanner, it will be discussed whether to replace only the damaged part or the whole solenoid pack. This will depend on the mechanic's recommendation based on your car model, damage level, and transmission requirements.

Whatever the mechanics recommendation will be, in the Sun Transmissions online store, you will find a wide variety of spare parts for your vehicle's automatic transmission. We invite you to browse our online store to discover the wide variety of products we have for you, like transmission pan gasket,
automatic transmission fluid, automatic transmission solenoidsautomatic transmission sensorand much more. If you need more information write to us through our contact form or WhatsApp button where we will gladly assist you and answer all your questions.

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