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The transmission in your Peterbilt truck is the most important part of your drivetrain. As it’s responsible for optimizing your engine’s power output, keeping it in pristine condition could not be more important. The first step to ensuring your transmission stays in great shape for as long as possible is to familiarize yourself with the signs and symptoms of a worn or malfunctioning transmission. From difficulty shifting gears to overheating issues, noticing the signs can save you a lot of money in the long run.
If you find that it’s difficult to shift your Peterbilt transmission, we highly recommend getting your truck serviced right away. This particular issue is commonly attributed to either low transmission fluid or fluid that’s failing to adequately lubricate your transmission’s moving components. On the one hand, low transmission fluid typically means there’s a leak that needs to be found. Common culprits include your transmission’s drain plug, your transmission cooler, and transmission cooler lines. On the other hand, fluid that fails to lubricate your gears may simply be too old. Flushing out the old fluid and replacing it with new lubricant should solve the problem.
A Peterbilt transmission that overheats is one that’s at serious risk of failure. Overheating can be caused by a variety of factors, but the most common are leaking fluid, transmission cooler failure, and poor preventive maintenance. Firstly, leaking fluid means less lubrication, which in turn means more friction. Heightened levels of friction will create heat that overpowers your transmission cooler, which in turn causes overheating. Secondly, transmission cooler failure can be caused by clogged cooler lines or cooler damage. Thirdly, poor preventive maintenance, like failure to change out your transmission fluid, can certainly cause overheating problems.
If the clutch in your heavy-duty Peterbilt truck is malfunctioning, we highly recommend coming in for service as soon as possible. If your clutch goes out, your engine and transmission will not be able to perform a cohesive power transfer, which will in turn leave you stranded on the side of the road. Fortunately, a sticky clutch in your Peterbilt truck can be fixed, but only if you bring it in when the symptoms arise. Symptoms of a sticky clutch include a clutch that’s slow to return or one that stays locked down for a few moments before returning. Grinding sounds and hard shifting are other common signs of a worn clutch to look out for.
If your Peterbilt transmission is slipping gears, we highly recommend coming in for service as soon as possible. Slipping gears are usually a result of poor preventive maintenance or overuse. Poor lubrication and prolonged overheating can cause your gears to wear down. This wear leads to gear slippage as each gear is harder to lock into place. Fortunately, worn gears can be replaced, but if the issue is left unchecked for too long, complete transmission failure becomes an option.
Leaking transmission fluid can cause a wide array of issues and is often only noticed when those issues arise. However, by routinely inspecting your Peterbilt’s transmission, you can identify these transmission fluid leaks before they cause issues. Fortunately, transmission fluid tends to be a dark red colour, meaning it’s easily identified. If you notice that transmission fluid is building up underneath your Peterbilt truck, we highly recommend coming in for service right away.
Does your Peterbilt truck shift roughly? If so, you may have an issue with your clutch. A clutch that fails to adequately connect your transmission and engine to one another is often the cause of overly rough shifting. A malfunctioning clutch, on the other hand, is generally the fault of driver error or improper lubrication. Regardless, this is an issue that can be fixed, but only if you bring your Peterbilt to a mechanic right away. A worn clutch that’s left unserviced is at a high risk of failure which will ultimately lead to higher repair bills and a lot more hassle.
At the end of the day, it’s a lot more cost-effective to repair small issues before they become serious concerns. Whether you’ve got leaking transmission fluid or are finding that it’s difficult to shift your transmission, the early warning signs must be identified to avoid cascading problems and cascading repair bills. At Specialized Truck Repair, we’re transmission repair and maintenance experts. Give us a call today to make an appointment for service.
