No, your air freshener isn’t playing tricks on your nose. A burning smell could be a serious sign that you have a faulty transmission. Here’s what that can mean for your vehicle.

What Is a Transmission?

Without a transmission, your vehicle would not be able to function. A transmission shifts your vehicle’s gears depending on your speed and rate of acceleration. A lower gear for driving slowly, and a higher gear for driving fast. Essentially, it controls how much power your engine gives your wheels.

In a manual transmission, you would switch the gears yourself by pressing the clutch and using the stick shift. These aren’t found as often in modern cars as automatic transmissions are more reliable. Inside of an automatic transmission, there still is an internal clutch mechanism, but sensors and processors signal a hydraulic pump to shift the gears automatically.

How Can a Faulty Transmission Cause a Burning Smell?

Depending on the type of transmission you are driving, automatic or manual, the burning smell can come from different sources. Below we explain where the smell could be coming from and how to fix it.

In a Manual Transmission

If you have a manual transmission and you smell something like burning newspaper, then your clutch could be the issue. The face of a clutch has a papery exterior. If you’ve been riding the clutch or aggressively shifting, this could cause your clutch to wear out and burn, creating that burning newspaper smell. When this happens, you might need to replace your clutch. If it continues to happen, it could be a sign of a faulty transmission.

In an Automatic Transmission

If you have an automatic transmission and you smell something burnt, it’s most likely your transmission fluid. In automatic transmissions, transmission fluid is red and has a slightly sweet smell, but if it’s burning then it will smell like burnt rubber. There are three reasons your transmission fluid could be burning:

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Your transmission fluid is out of date.
When’s the last time you had your transmission fluid changed? Most auto experts recommend you have your transmission fluid replaced every 60,000 to 100,000 miles. This will keep your vehicle running smooth and prevent a faulty transmission.
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Your transmission fluid is out of date.
When’s the last time you had your transmission fluid changed? Most auto experts recommend you have your transmission fluid replaced every 60,000 to 100,000 miles. This will keep your vehicle running smooth and prevent a faulty transmission.
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Your transmission fluid is contaminated.
Metal shaving, junk, and other debris can build up in your transmission fluid and turn it into sludge. Like a clogged artery in the heart, this can cause poor circulation. The pump will have to work twice as hard to circulate the fluid. If it doesn’t, then the transmission will overheat and begin to burn off the junk.

Consequences of a Faulty Transmission

While a burning smell might not be the sign of a faulty transmission yet, it could lead to one. If not attended to, then a faulty transmission running on no fluid or burnt fluid could cause major problems to your vehicle. If transmission fluid can’t circulate properly, it can cause

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Fires
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Slipping gears
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Surging or Jumping
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Worn out gears
Regardless of the type, if there is a burning smell coming from your vehicle, pull over right away and turn off the engine. In a combustible engine, any kind of burning can quickly lead to a fire. It can be very dangerous to drive with a faulty transmission, so we recommend you take your vehicle to a mechanic as soon as possible.

Other Warning Signs of a Faulty Transmission

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Check engine light comes on
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Gears slipping
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Leaking transmission fluid
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Shaking, vibrating, grinding
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Vehicle is unresponsive or slow to start

Other Possible Things a Burning Smell Could be

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A heater that hasn’t been used in awhile
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An oil leak
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An electrical short circuit
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Too much friction in brakes
If you’re unsure about the source of your burning smell, we recommend seeing a mechanic as soon as possible.

A Quality Transmission at a Price You Can Afford

A quality transmission doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. With our one year warranty, we offer used transmissions you can trust at a price you can afford. Contact us now to replace that faulty transmission with a functioning one.

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