What Are the Symptoms Of a TCM (Transmission Control Module) Problem?

Automotive designs have evolved over the years to provide a safer and more convenient driving experience. One important and practical upgrade is the availability of automatic transmissions that offer automatic adjustment of gear ratios, without human intervention, as the vehicle moves. Since the driver is no longer required to manually change the gears, automatic transmission systems rely on the transmission control module to control the gear shifting process.

Positioned at the rear end of the engine, the transmission control module uses computerized technology to determine how and when to change gears to optimize the driving performance. Without it, the vehicle would experience difficulty adjusting to various driving conditions.

Other duties of the transmission control module include:

• Receiving signals from sensors and relaying them to the lock-up clutch in order to regulate fuel-efficiency and power
• Storing information about the vehicle’s transmission so it can use it later to adjust gear shifting according to the driving conditions.

The transmission control module is designed to run for long period without experiencing any major problems, though excess heat from the engine and continuous use can negatively affects it function over time. When you have a faulty transmission control module, you will experience:

• Delay in acceleration even when the gas pedal is floored
• Poor performance of the automatic transmission, like failure to recognize drive mode (reacts like neutral mode)

Damage to the control module can be caused by voltage overload, when there is a short in the solenoid or actuator circuit; when water causes the circuits to get shorted out; or vibration and thermal stress.

The transmission control module affects the functioning of multiple vehicle components, from the charging system to the transmission. When it goes bad, the engine also suffers functionality issues, causing it to stall. To prevent a total breakdown, you should get the transmission control module fixed as soon as you notice problems. Bring your car to Pro-Tech Transmissions for professional transmission care.