It might not sound terrible, but having water in your vehicle’s transmission system can spell major trouble. In fact, it doesn’t take much to damage what most people would probably assume is a heavy-duty component. A few ounces of water mixed in with your transmission fluid can cause enough damage to require a rebuild.

How Water Gets Into Your Transmission System

There are several ways water can get into the transmission system—the most common being by driving through flooded roads. Transmissions are equipped with a vent that is responsible for maintaining equal barometric pressure inside. When you pass through water that is deep enough to reach the vent, the liquid will get drawn in. On rare occasions, water coming from rain or even car washes can enter through the dipstick tube.

What It Does to Your Transmission

The clutch plates in your transmission system have a friction lining that quickly deteriorates after absorbing water. Once this happens, pieces of clutch material will separate from its steel backing, and you will no longer be able to shift gears, rendering the transmission system useless and your vehicle inoperable. The bad news is that these clutch plates are hygroscopic, which means they’ll attract moisture.

How You Can Fix It

If you know water got into the system, you can address the issue by having the vehicle towed to a transmission repair shop where they can drain the fluid and replace it. Once you start the car, however, your best-case scenario would be to get a rebuild, as the damage will almost be instantaneous. Choosing the Raybestos^® Powertrain rebuild kit for your specific model will help prevent a similar situation in the future. Their clutch plates are phosphate etched; this improves the bond between the friction lining and steel plate.

If you need a transmission rebuild, get in touch with Transmission Services in Lincoln, NE. This company specializes in a number of maintenance and repair services for every vehicle make and model. From standard to four-wheel drive transmission systems, their highly skilled technicians can handle any job. Give them a call at (402) 475-3637 to schedule an appointment, or visit their website to learn more about their services.