5 Crucial Facts About Your Car’s Transmission

If you’ve owned a car before, you probably know that transmission repair is the last thing you want to deal with. Mostly, because you know how expensive a transmission is to repair or replace. Your total repair could be thousands of dollars.

That’s why we’re here to help! Before any mechanic doom and gloom, we’re going to tell you the top 5 transmission-related facts you need to know. There are ways to maintain your transmission so as to preserve a long-lasting relationship with your cherished vehicle.

 

1. What does a transmission do?

Let’s first begin with what role a vehicle’s transmission plays. The transmission’s job is to ensure that the correct amount of power from the engine goes to the wheels of your car, so it drives at a given speed. Basically, the faster the engine rotates the more energy is sent through the fluid inside the transmission and the faster your wheels spin. Explaining the process further depends on whether your car has a manual or automatic transmission. We’ll leave that for another blog post.

Two key components that make up a transmission are:

• The Shaft, which transfers energy from the engine to the axles, allowing your vehicle to move.
• The Gears, which take energy from the engine, so your vehicle can move at a range of speeds. Gears allow your vehicle to start, drive, and stop.

 

courtesy of Auto Repair Huntington Beach

2. Changing the transmission fluid

If you ask any mechanic or car enthusiast if you need to change your vehicle’s transmission fluid, the answer will always be yes. Transmission fluid is the lifeline to all moving parts in your vehicle’s transmission. It lubricates and keeps your transmission cool. Over time, transmission fluid deteriorates, especially when your vehicle is involved with stop-and-go city driving and pulling heavy loads. So, when should you think about changing it?

First, refer to your owner’s manual. You should usually change your transmission fluid around 100,000 miles. We know this sounds like a lot, especially if you don’t plan on having your vehicle for very long. But if you buy a car that’s used, has high mileage, or you decide to drive it over 100,000 miles, think seriously about changing your transmission fluid.

The fluid’s color will also be a tell-tale sign of a needed change. Transmission fluid tends to get darker and emits a burnt odor when it is ready to be replaced. For a routine check, pop the hood and locate the dipstick next to the engine. Your manual will help guide you.

For an average car owner, changing the transmission fluid can be a messy and tricky procedure. We recommend you bring your vehicle to a dealership and have them give you their expert opinion.

Some newer models have a sealed transmission, and require a mechanic to change its fluid. If your transmission is sealed you can tell the fluid may be bad if the gears grind or have delayed engagement when shifting.

 

3. What does it mean to flush the transmission fluid?

Power-flushing your system is one of the best transmission maintenance procedures available. Instead of just changing the transmission fluid, a mechanic will use a machine that runs new oil through your transmission. While pushing out built up sludge and grime, this process replaces every drop of used fluid with completely fresh fluid. A flush will cost around $255.

 

courtesy of Best Ride

4. What is a transmission leak?

A transmission leak marks one of the most common car maintenance issues.  It can be caused by not changing the transmission fluid often enough, by an accident, or from normal wear and tear. Low fluid levels can cause your transmission to slip and overheat. If you see dark red or brown fluid underneath your car, have it checked immediately. We say this only because transmission leaks will quickly cause the entire system to fail. Transmission is dependent on fluid so if the fluid level is fleeting, nothing will work properly.

 

5. How much does it cost to repair or replace a transmission?

We’re sorry, but it’s most likely going to be expensive. A major problem with your transmission is usually the last thing any car owner wants to hear from their mechanic. There’s no easy way around it unless you spend the money to repair, rebuild, or replace the transmission. According to Angie’s List, the average cost to rebuild a transmission ranges from $2,800 to $3,800. To replace a transmission, you’re going to spend anywhere between $4,000 to $8,000. But not all transmission issues require repair or replacement. With this information, you can be one step ahead of a failing transmission.

 

 

Maintaining your transmission takes some thought but it can be easy and cheap. If you’re planning on adventuring this summer, check out our 5 need-to-know tips for summer car care. Enjoy your ride!

 

Posted in Car Tips | Comments Off on 5 Crucial Facts About Your Car’s Transmission