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Driving off-road takes its toll on your car. It suffers from more stress in difficult driving conditions where you have to make rapid and regular gear changes. Sometimes, this kind of driving causes problems. For example, you can damage your transmission.

How can tell you tell if this has happened?

1. Your Transmission Doesn't Work Smoothly

If your transmission has problems, then you might initially feel that things have changed as you drive. For example, your gears might slip when you change them.

Or, sometimes, gear shifts take more time than usual. They don't work smoothly — changing gears feels harder and rougher than it should.

In some cases, you'll also hear noises that tell you that you have a problem. You might hear clunks and grinding sounds whenever you use your gears.

2. Your Transmission Fluid Is Leaking

If driving over rough terrain has broken or cracked part of your transmission, then it might start to leak fluid. This is usually easy to spot. You'll see drips or a pool of fluid under your car.

It's also easy to work out when fluid under a vehicle comes from the transmission area. This fluid is typically red; however, as it ages, it might turn a more maroon or brown color. If the transmission has a contamination problem, then the leak might be more of a pink color.

3. You Smell Burning

Any unusual smell in a vehicle is a sign of a problem. If you can smell burning, then you know that something is wrong. If the smell comes from your transmission, then this might be a sign that the system is overheating its fluid.

Some problems, like clutch damage, often give off the smell of burning rubber or plastic. If oil leaks from your exhaust, then the interior of your car might have an oily burning smell. Brake problems can smell like burning carpet. These are all acrid smells.

However, a transmission problem smells a little different; it gives off a very distinctive aroma. Here, the smell of burning typically has a sweet underlying scent. You might also feel that things smell a bit sour inside your car.

If your transmission breaks down then you have a serious — and expensive — problem to fix. You might not be able to drive your car. Even if you can, it might not be safe. So, at the first sign of problems, contact an off-roading vehicle repair service like Stretch Powersports. They can advise you what to do next.