Few things cause the average auto owner to cringe like the mention of transmission trouble. The scary thing is that most people only know that it sounds expensive. Yet with some basic knowledge of transmissions and how to care for them, replacing a transmission can be avoided in many cases. While 200,000 on a transmission is possible with good care, variables ensue that make that prediction very fuzzy. Some last 80,000 miles or fewer.
Article Resource: Transmission trouble – What every car owner must know by Car Deal Expert
Reduce transmission trouble with a little understanding
Fighting transmission trouble begins with knowing what a transmission does for a car. The transmission is a key part of the power-giving drivetrain, the system that moves your vehicle. Both automatic and manual transmissions serve to facilitate gear shifts so that the car moves on a variety of surfaces and inclines.
The full schematic of a transmission’s inner workings is detailed, but here are four basic systems:
- 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?
”As long as possible” is the hope for those who keep up with fluid and filter changes. But the real answer depends upon your driving habits, driving environment, type of fluid used and the physical construction of your transmission (beyond your control). Quality of transmission build is beyond the average car shopper’s influence in most cases, so focus on the other aspects.
How Stuff Works says that transmission fluid should be changed at least twice per year, if not more often. Severe use of your car (more than 50 percent of driving time spent in heavy city traffic in temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit) generally warrants the use of a 15,000-mile transmission fluid and filter change interval. Various grades of transmission fluid exist (more than 50 types), and each is rated at a different level of slipperiness for your car’s specific gear ratio. Thus, consult your car’s owner’s manual for advice on what grade of fluid is appropriate.
Do you notice a fluid leak?
If the transmission shifts in a rough fashion, transmission trouble might be something for which to search. According to How Stuff Works, some places to check for red fluid leaks include:
- Base of the filler tube
- Drain hole underneath the transmission
- Between transmission and engine
- Selector shaft – The rod connecting gear shift to transmission
- Speed sensor mounting point – Either a cable running into the transmission housing or a sensor that’s bolted directly to the transmission housing
- Radiator – Red transmission fluid doesn’t mix with radiator fluid, so it should be easy to spot it floating around in there
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. According to Cost Helper, replacing a transmission can cost anywhere from $ 1,800 to $ 3,500. 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.
Find more information on this topic
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
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