Typically, car transmissions last so long as you treat them well. Manual transmissions usually last longer than automatic transmissions. But the day will eventually come when your manual transmission will break down. Before that happens, you’ll want to know how to tell it’s time to replace your manual transmission. That way, it doesn’t give out at an inconvenient time.

The Check Engine Light Comes On

Let’s start with the dreaded check engine light. Unfortunately, this could indicate any number of problems. One potential problem is that your transmission is about to give out. Even if the light shuts off, you should have someone run a diagnostic on your vehicle to make sure everything checks out. It’s better to know that there’s an issue rather than wait until it becomes worse.

You Have Trouble Shifting

Fortunately, since you directly control the transmission in manual cars, it will be easier to tell if something is wrong. If you ever notice that something is off with your stick shift, whether it’s hard to move or pops out of gear on its own, you’ll immediately know there’s an issue. If you have the proper tools and find the right manual transmission parts online, you should be able to fix more minor problems. However, sometimes the best thing to do is buy a new one.

There Is a Leak

Another easy way how to tell it’s time to replace your manual transmission is if there’s a leak forming under where you park your car. If it lines up with the transmission, there’s a good chance that’s where it originates. Still, you should put a pan underneath it to check what kind of fluid leaks out. Once you determine that it’s coming from the transmission, you’ll need to decide what to do. Once again, you could potentially fix it with the right parts, but a replacement might be in order if that’s not a possibility.

It’s Making a Loud Noise

Finally, grinding or rumbling noises coming from your transmission are a bad sign. It can be challenging to determine if these sounds originate from the transmission. If that’s their source, you’ll almost definitely need to buy a new one. If it’s making noises like those, there’s a good chance that it’s too late for repairs.