Transmission trouble is something no car owner wants to hear. The scary thing is that most people only know that it sounds expensive. But all it takes is some basic transmission knowledge and care techniques to skip having to replace a transmission before its time. While 200,000 on a transmission is possible with good care, variables ensue that make that prediction very fuzzy. Some transmissions only go 80,000 miles.
A transmission is no trouble if you understand it
Fighting transmission trouble begins with knowing what a transmission does for a car. It is a key component in the drivetrain of your vehicle; the drivetrain consists of those components that generate power and transfer it to the road surface so that the vehicle moves forward. Automobile transmissions come in automatic and manual varieties, and in both cases, gears shift in order to maintain the car’s momentum.
While all of the internal workings of a transmission are somewhat complex, here are the four basic systems, as outlined by About.com:
- Bell housing: The cone-shaped metal casing. If your car is front-wheel drive, it will be visible under the hood and off to the side of the engine. Rear-wheel drive cars house the transmission under the car and behind the engine.
- Gears: These are broken down into main and planetary segments. These are essential to an engine’s function.
- Fluid: The red fluid in an automatic transmission. It lubricates the gears of an automatic transmission so that excessive heat build-up doesn’t cause the parts to break down and cause real transmission trouble.
- Filter: Eventually, transmission fluid becomes dirty and needs to be changed. The transmission filter catches particles and build-up. Many early transmission trouble issues can be helped by changing the filter
How long should you cling to your transmission?
If you practice proper transmission maintenance, “as long as possible” is the general answer. More specifically, however, the answer depends upon how you drive, the environment in which you’re driving, the type of transmission fluid you use and the construction of your transmission (as a mass-produced part, it will vary greatly by manufacturer). Build quality is often beyond one’s control, so focus on the other aspects is best.
At least two times per year (if not more) is a good rule of thumb for how often transmission fluid should be changed, writes How Stuff Works. Hard city driving and 90-plus-degree Fahrenheit temperatures warrant at least a 15,000-mile changing schedule. There are 50 or more transmission fluid grades to provide the proper amount of lubrication for your car’s specific gear settings. Thus, consult your car’s owner’s manual for advice on what grade of fluid is appropriate.
Do you notice a fluid leak?
If your vehicle fails to shift smoothly, transmission trouble may be on your doorstep. How Stuff Works points out where to look for leaks that could be causing this shifting problem:
- Drain hole on the underside
- From between transmission and engine
- Selector shaft
- Speed sensor mounting point – Via cable or direct mount
- Into the radiator – Easy to spot in there
< li>Base of the filler tube
Serious transmission trouble? Avoid DIY
If maintaining the proper fluid levels and replacing the filter don’t save you from transmission trouble, consult an ASE-certified mechanic with Blue Seal repair facilities. Expect costs in the neighborhood of $ 1,800 to $ 3,500 when replacing a transmission, advises Cost Helper. That will depend on labor costs and vehicle make, it should be known. Try to find a mechanic who will offer at least a limited warranty on the replaced transmission. Just remember that the more your car costs, the more likely it will cost to replace the transmission.
Additional information at these websites
http://www.costhelper.com/cost/cars/transmission.html
http://autorepair.about.com/od/troubleshooting/a/auto_tran_probs.htm
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/under-the-hood/car-part-longevity/how-long-transmissions-last.htm
