Most people know that their car’s transmission is important. But other than that basic assumption, they are really unaware of what it does, or how to spot the signs of a problem. However, with this guide, courtesy of Jeremy Wolfson who owns Benchmark Auto Services, not only will you have a better understanding of what tasks the transmission fulfills, but you will also know how to detect a small problem that should be checked out so that it doesn’t turn into anything too destructive.
What does the transmission do for your car?
Basically, explains Wolfson, the transmission was designed to transmit power from the engine of the car to the wheels. It switches your car’s gears so that you can speed up smoothly, go into neutral, reverse and park.
How many types of transmissions are there?
Transmissions are typically classified as either automatic or manual. An automatic transmission requires you to do little to take your car from park to drive. Then, depending on your speed fluctuation, the transmission does the work of switching gears. A manual transmission, however, requires the driver to use the car’s clutch to switch the gears for himself. Your car will also have either a three- or seven-speed transmission, though this usually depends on the age of your car and the type of vehicle it is, such as a sports car vs. a minivan.
How can you maintain your transmission?
To keep your transmission in the best condition possible, Wolfson suggests that you not skip or procrastinate scheduled maintenance, as this will be an area of your car that is examined during a tune-up and the transmission fluid will be replaced. It’s also important, he says, that if you feel like there is a problem with the transmission, you take it in as soon as possible so that the problem doesn’t escalate.
How can you detect a problem with the transmission?
Problems with a transmission are more common on automatic cars, especially if the vehicle has over 100,000 miles, Wolfson says. Mainly this is because automatic cars are more complicated and have so many moving parts, making it easier for something to go wrong.
Signs that you have a problem include:
- It takes awhile for your car to switch into the next gear either when you do it in a manual car, or as you speed up in an automatic car.
- When you put your car into drive, it takes a few moments before it clicks and you can actually drive away.
- Your engine constantly revs as your speed increases, which signifies that there is slippage between the gears.
- You feel a lot of jerking in your car as the transmission switches gears, or it just doesn’t feel as smooth as it used to.
