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 may someday need includes your car’s 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 a mechanical breakdown, which could leave you stranded on the roadside and with a hefty bill on your hands.
In this article, we’ll answer what a transmission is in easy-to-understand terms. We’ll also explain the common signs that suggest it needs to be fixed.
What Is a 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 vehicle 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.
What is a transmission’s foremost purpose? It’s to convert all of the energy made by the engine into appropriate power and speeds for the axle and tires. Car 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 Car Transmission Terms to Know
If you drive a car with a manual transmission, 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 in a car, 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 vehicle transmission systems need transmission fluid or hydraulic fluid to lubricate gears, provide hydraulic pressure, and help keep the vehicle 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:
- You find puddles of red or sweet-smelling hydraulic fluid under your car
- Your car experiences some grinding or shaking when you change gears (which happens when you make the car go faster or slower)
- Your vehicle pauses when you try to shift out of a parked state
- Your vehicle makes some whistling, clunking, or screeching sounds
- For manual transmission cars, the gear shifter is difficult to move or physically won’t go into gear
- There is a burnt smell coming from under the hood
- Hydraulic fluid is foul-smelling, thick, or cloudy
There are many other ways that vehicle 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 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
Failure of the transmission in a car 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 fluid is used to create the hydraulic pressure needed to power movement in the car 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, a manual transmission in a car could fail. Another potential cause of failure in this type of vehicle 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 vehicle 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 in a car could be as high as $5,000, or more. 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 an auto protection plan through CarShield, you could be saving thousands of dollars when it breaks down.
Contact a representative and get your free quote today.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a transmission work?
A car transmission transfers power from the engine to the wheels by using gears to control speed and torque. This allows the vehicle transmission to shift smoothly and ensures the right amount of power for acceleration, cruising, or stopping.
Where is the transmission in a car?
The transmission in a car is typically located between the engine and the drive wheels. In front-wheel-drive vehicles, the car transmission sits near the front axle, while rear-wheel-drive setups place the vehicle transmission toward the middle or rear.
Is the transmission part of the engine?
No. While closely connected, the transmission is not part of the engine. The engine creates power, and the car transmission manages how that power is delivered to the wheels.
