Suzuki Swift is one of the best-selling Suzuki models on the market. This compact city car is reliable, efficient, practical, and easy to maintain. But like all Suzuki models, it also faces several problems. But what are the Suzuki Swift’s automatic transmission problems?
Suzuki Swift automatic transmission problems include unresponsive gears, regular low fluid & leaking, burning smell, and grinding & shaking issues. Additionally, some owners have also reported having trouble shifting gears, check engine light coming on, transmission slippage, and problems with clunking, whining, and rattling noises.
What are the common problems with Suzuki Swift automatic transmission?
Unresponsive gears
If the transmission in the Suzuki Swift automatic is becoming unresponsive, this is a sign that you’ve got a faulty solenoid or a faulty transmission speed sensor. Note that the solenoid is the likely culprit if the transmission is unresponsive or refuses to downshift, or hesitates.
Before fixing the issue, ensure you have a professional mechanic diagnose the problem and replace the affected part.
Burning smell
Your Suzuki Swift shouldn’t have a burning smell. So, if you happen to smell like something is burning followed by transmission issues, this is an indication that your car’s transmission fluid is low. Because of the lack of transmission fluid, friction may cause the breakdown of parts and the buildup of debris. All these issues lead to the breakdown of the transmission.
To fix this issue, you will have to refill the transmission fluid. What’s more, you should always ensure that the transmission has the right transmission fluid level.
Regular low fluid and leaking
Have you noticed a dirty dark red fluid on your floor garage? This is a sign of automatic transmission leakage. Low transmission fluid is bad for your car as it causes a lot of friction that can lead to the breakdown of several parts. Some of the parts that break down and cause leakage are the gasket and hose.
To fix this issue, you will visit a professional mechanic so that they can diagnose and replace the faulty part.
Grinding and shaking issues
Your automatic transmission should operate smoothly when shifting gears. It shouldn’t have a grinding, shaking, or even slipping sensation. However, when you start experiencing one of these signs, this is an indication that you’ve got transmission issues.
The main cause of the transmission grinding or shaking is because of damaged gears. That’s why you should have this issue fixed quickly before things worsen.
Check engine light comes on
When the check engine light comes, this is a sign that your car has a problem. It can be from the engine, suspension, or transmission. So, having your car checked is vital to determine the real issue. Like most car parts, the transmission also has sensors that pick up strange things and send the signal to your computer.
If you see the check engine light, you should have your car inspected and the problem diagnosed.
Issues with clunking, whining, and rattling noises
Another sign of a bad transmission is whining, rattling, and clunking noises. Most of these noises are caused by old transmission fluid that has lost its properties and doesn’t offer friction properly. Hence, if you hear these noises, you should have the fluid changed and see if they go away. If not, have a professional mechanic look at your car.
Difficulty shifting gears
A bad or faulty solenoid not only causes the transmission to be unresponsive but as well as makes shifting into different gears to be challenging. This is because the solenoid controls the flow of the fluid via the transmission and hence effectively controls the transmission shifts.
So, if the solenoid becomes defective, the transmission may become difficult to shift into different gears. To fix this issue, you will have to replace the bad solenoid.
Transmission slippage
This is another common Suzuki Swift automatic transmission problem. It is normally caused by a low level of transmission fluid or bad transmission fluid. Transmission slippage causes the transmission not to transfer the engine power to the wheels in an effective way. Furthermore, the rpm jump won’t be followed by an increase in speed.
To fix this issue, you will have the fluid-filled or replaced.
FAQ
What type of automatic transmission does the Suzuki Swift come with?
Surprisingly, different Suzuki Swift model years come with different automatic transmissions. The first- and second-generation Suzuki Swift models are fitted with a traditional 4-speed automatic transmission, while some second-generation models also feature CVT transmissions. What’s more, most third-generation models have CVTs, while a few models feature a 6-speed automatic transmission.
What is the main problem with Suzuki CVT transmission?
While different car brands experience different problems with their CVT transmissions, such as sudden loss of acceleration, shuddering, and slipping, the Suzuki CVT is plagued with another issue. The main problem with the Suzuki CVT is transmission overheating. This issue forces most Suzuki models with CVT to enter temperature protection control.
Apart from transmission issues, which other problems does the Suzuki Swift come with?
Suzuki Swift may be a fine city car with lots of outstanding features, but it also comes with several problems. Aside from transmission issues, owners of the car have also reported having loss of power, timing chain failure, faulty EGR valves, oil leaks, excessive oil usage, and much more.
What is the major failure in automatic transmissions?
The main cause of automatic transmission failure is low transmission fluid or wrong transmission fluid. So, if your automatic transmission is failing or having issues, you should start by checking the fluid level and type.
Low fluid levels in an automatic transmission cause the transmission to have delayed engagement, difficulty shifting, or even makes it to slip.
What are the main signs of transmission trouble?
Taking care of your transmission on time will save you costly repairs and prolong the lifespan of the car. However, before you can take care of any transmission issues, you need to know the signs of a bad or failing transmission. Some of the signs of a failing transmission are a burning smell, refusal to switch gears, leaking transmission fluid, and much more.
Summary
Knowing the problems to anticipate before investing in a car is crucial as it helps the owner to maintain the car better. It also helps them avoid serious and costly repairs in the long run. The Suzuki Swift automatic transmission is reliable, but it can be problematic if it’s not well taken care of.
To avoid most of the Suzuki Swift automatic transmission issues we’ve discussed above, you should adhere to the manufacturer’s recommended schedule maintenance service. On top of that, minor issues should be dealt with faster before they go out of hand.
