Plans through CarShield cover over 5,000 parts…but what are those parts, exactly? And what do those parts do? One of the largest vehicle repair jobs you car may someday need includes your car transmission. Your vehicle’s automatic transmission (or, for some cars, a manual transmission) is responsible for several key functions of your car. If this car part fails, it would result in mechanical breakdown which could leave you stranded on the roadside.
What Is a Car Transmission?
Your transmission is the car part that connects the engine to the vehicle’s axles and, in doing so, converts engine power into usable energy for the drive wheels. The central component of this car part is its impressive array of gears. That set of gears is attached to the engine on one end and a set of shafts, joints, and axles on the other. If you have two-wheel drive, your transmission will only be connected to the back axle. If you have four-wheel drive, however, the engine’s power may be split between the front and rear axles.
The foremost purpose of a car’s transmission is to convert all of the energy made by the engine into appropriate power and speeds for the axle and tires. Transmission gears allow your car to go faster or slower instead of being stuck at a single speed all the time no matter what you’re doing. According to the pressure you are applying to the gas pedal, a corresponding amount of power is sent to the axles to make your tires turn at the right speed.
Other Transmission Terms to Know
If you have a manual transmission car, you would also want to know about the clutch, which you would need to use in order to switch transmission gears safely. If you have an automatic transmission, then this term is not as relevant to your driving experience.
A drive shaft will span the length of your car to connect your transmission to the rear differential, which manages the speed of the axle in relation to the speed of the drive shaft.
Finally, many transmission systems need transmission fluid or hydraulic fluid to lubricate gears, provide hydraulic pressure, and to help keep the transmission cool while it’s working.
Signs of Car Transmission Issues
Since you will be unable to easily observe your transmission’s operation while driving, here are a few key symptoms of a transmission in trouble:
There are many other ways that transmission trouble can show up, so check with your local certified mechanic for more information about what to look for according to your car’s specific make and model.
Common Car Transmission Problems
Now that we have talked about clues that your vehicle’s transmission may be broken, let’s review some of the common transmission problems your vehicle might experience. These problems may vary based on your vehicle, because different types of vehicles have different common transmission repair issues.
Leaked, Contaminated, or Old Transmission Fluid
Transmission failure can happen if your hydraulic fluid is either too dirty or at too low a level. The effect of this issue will differ based on the type of engine you have. If you have a manual transmission, this fluid would lubricate gears and prevent grinding. In an automatic transmission vehicle, hydraulic fuel is used to create the hydraulic pressure needed to power movement in the transmission. If you don’t have enough of this fluid or if it’s too dirty or spent, these functions cannot be performed.
Manual Transmission Only: Worn Clutch or Gear Synchronizers
To encourage a seamless gear change experience, manual transmissions have gear synchronizers (or “synchros”). When these get worn down and are left untreated, then a manual transmission could fail. Another potential cause of failure in this type of transmission is a worn clutch. If this part is also too worn to do its job, then it needs to be replaced or mechanical failure will be imminent.
Automatic Transmission Only: Needle Roller Bearing Failure
Needle roller bearings help prevent grinding in your transmission’s torque converter. When you hear grinding or brushing coming from your vehicle in motion, these bearings might have become worn or inefficient at their job.
How CarShield Can Help
The cost to replace a failed transmission could be as high as $5,000. Depending on the repair needs and location, it could cost even more than that. Plans through CarShield were designed to meet your vehicle repair needs, and most of these plans include transmission protection! When you protect your vehicle (and its transmission) with a plan through CarShield, you could be saving thousands of dollars when it breaks down.
