Transmission trouble is a frightful phrase for any car owner. 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. For some cars, that time may come around 200,000 miles, although as you’ll see, there are many variables involved that can lessen that figure. Some transmissions only go 80,000 miles.
Transmission trouble won’t visit so often if care is taken
Staving off transmission trouble must incorporate knowledge of how a transmission works. 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 nuts and bolts are a bit complicated, but here are the four basics:
- 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
For what amount of time does a transmission function?
”As long as possible” is the hope for those who keep up with fluid and filter changes. 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. Check your owner’s manual for more information on what is appropriate for your transmission, usage and driving conditions.
Is there a transmission fluid leak?
If the transmission shifts in a rough fashion, transmission trouble might be something for which to search. How Stuff Works points out where to look for leaks that could be causing this shifting problem:
- Drain hole on the underbelly
- Between transmission and engine
- Selector shaft – where the shift connects to the tranny
- Speed sensor – Either mounted on the housing or the spot where a cable connects
- Radiator – Look for red fluid mixed with the water/antifreeze
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Serious transmission trouble deserves a skilled mechanic
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. Cost Helper suggests that replacing a transmission at this stage could cost $ 1,800 to $ 3,500. That will depend on labor costs and vehicle make, it should be known. In addition to shopping around for the best rate, try to make sure a limited warranty is included. Rule of thumb is the more your car costs, the more 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
