One of the most important parts of your vehicle is your transmission. When your transmission breaks down, you can't drive your car, which is why you need to be aware of the different signs that your transmission is not working well. If you ignore these signs, you are going to need to call for roadside assistance for a tow when your vehicle overheats.

Sign #1: Burning Smell

When you drive your vehicle, you should not notice a smell from the engine area. If you notice that your car smells like it is burning when it is running, that may mean that the oil in your transmission is overheating. When you smell this burning smell, you should stop driving or get to your mechanic.

If you continue to drive, your vehicle may overheat. If your vehicle overheats, you are going to need to call a tow truck to take you to your mechanic.

Sign #2: A Clunking Sound

When you drive your vehicle, your transmission should smoothly change from one gear to another without making any additional noises. A clunking sound generally means that your transmission is not properly switching gears. Once you start to hear this sound, you need to get your vehicle checked by a mechanic.

If you keep driving with the clunking sound, you may find yourself in a position where you are not able to change your gears, and you will need to call roadside assistance for a tow truck to take you to your mechanic.

Sign #3: Grinding Sound

You may also notice a grinding sound every time your vehicle switches gears. Even if you have an automatic transmission, it is still going to need to switch gears. When you switch gears, you will hear a grinding sound, and you will feel a pull as well. This means that your transmission isn't working smoothly or that the clutch for the transmission is worn out.

Sign #4: Steam from Under Your Hood

One of the most serious signs that your transmission needs to be fixed is steam coming up from under your hood. If your vehicle starts to overheat, and steam is pouring out from under the hood, you need to pull over and allow your car to cool off. This can take a number of hours, so don't rush the process.

This is a situation where calling your roadside assistance program for tow truck makes sense. You should never drive an overheating vehicle. 

If your transmission gives you any of these warning signs, you need to get your transmission fixed. If your transmission is overheating or breaks down, you need to call your roadside assistance program to get a tow truck driver to haul your vehicle to your mechanic. Be sure to let your tow truck driver know what happened with your vehicle so they can bring the right towing equipment. 

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