Holiday Ayo - When you want to buy a used car, you should do a test drive first. There are several crucial components that must be checked, one of which is the automatic transmission. 

If this part is problematic, the repair costs can be very expensive and burden the new owner. According to Agus, the owner of the European car specialist workshop Autohaus in Central Jakarta, damage to automatic transmissions in used cars is often not realized by prospective buyers because the symptoms are only felt when the car is used under certain conditions.

"A transmission that is starting to have problems is usually felt from a jolt when changing gears, there is a pause or slip, or even a buzzing sound coming from the transmission room," said Agus, Thursday (10/4).

He added that several cars that come to his workshop often experience problems changing gears, especially when the engine temperature is hot or when the car is going uphill.

According to Agus, this could indicate wear on internal transmission components such as a clutch pack or solenoid that is already weak.

In addition to symptoms while driving, Agus advised prospective buyers to pay attention to the color and aroma of the transmission oil. 

Oil that changes color to dark brown or smells burnt could be a sign that the transmission has been working under high pressure for too long. 

“If the oil is bad but has not been replaced, there is usually a domino effect on other components in the transmission. So, don't just look at the exterior condition of the car," he said. 

To prevent losses, Agus advised prospective buyers to conduct a thorough inspection by taking the car to a specialist workshop before the transaction. 

That way, potential damage can be identified early and buyers can reconsider their decisions more wisely.