WHAT DOES A TRANSMISSION DO FOR A CAR?

A car's transmission governs the power sent from the vehicle's engine to its wheels. This vital component helps make sure your car has the muscle it needs to perform various maneuvers when you're driving around town or on the highway. It helps the car start from a complete stop, and it allows it to easily reach cruising speed on the freeway.

What Does a Transmission Do For a Car?

This component helps make sure the vehicle has the power it needs to travel at the desired speed. It does this by providing a means for shifting gears. With a manual car, the gear shifts are handled by the driver. This is done by depressing the clutch and adjusting the gear shifter. With an automatic car, the gear shifts are handled automatically. Sensors determine when shifts should take place.

Whether it's manual or automatic, this vital component helps your car run smoothly. It also plays a role in helping your vehicle achieve optimal fuel economy. If this car part is faulty, it can make your vehicle less fuel-efficient, so it's a good idea to keep it in tip-top shape via regular service visits and tune-ups.

Parts of a Transmission

On an automatic car, this setup includes parts such as an oil pump, an oil pan, a band brake, a valve body, and a torque converter. It also contains a planetary gear set and clutch packs, and these parts help manage the vehicle's gearing. A manual setup is a lot simpler in its design. Manual cars contain a clutch, shafts, and a gear selector fork.

What Transmission Do I Have (by Vin)?

VIN stands for "vehicle identification number." The VIN is a series of letters and numbers used to identify your vehicle, and it's usually 17 characters long. You can access useful information about a car by decoding its VIN. Some carmakers use the VIN to let you know if a car is manual or automatic; though, this is not required by the federal government, so not all automakers follow this standard. If this information is included in the VIN, it's usually located between the fourth and the eighth digits. Online decoders are available to decipher the meaning of your car's VIN.

What Is a Gearbox in a Car?

A gearbox is found in manual cars. It provides a selection of gears to accommodate different driving conditions. There's a gear available for starting from a stop, and there's one that's suited for when you're climbing a hill. The lowest gears are designed for traveling at low speed, while higher gears are used as speed increases.

Automatic Car: Gear Shift Basics

How does an automatic car shift gears? An automatic car has a sensor that identifies when it's time to change gears. Once determined that a gear shift needs to happen, the change is made using internal oil pressure. The torque converter plays a key role in this, along with the planetary gearsets.

How Does a Torque Converter Work?

This is a component found in cars that shift gears automatically. It helps make sure the car gets the power it needs to provide the performance you expect. It works by using fluid pressure to govern the amount of torque that's transmitted from the engine to the car's wheels.

What Is Automatic Transmission Slipping?

Slipping is a common problem with automatic cars. With slipping, an automatic car's gears don't change as they should. Slipping can cause your car's engine to rev when gears are being changed. It can create a delay in acceleration and can make it difficult for you to shift gears. If slipping is occurring, you may hear unusual noises when gears are being shifted, and you may notice a burning smell coming from under the hood.

Slipping can be caused by issues such as worn-out car parts. Though it may seem like a relatively minor problem, slipping can be dangerous. It can create a safety hazard by causing your car to change gears unexpectedly. Also, you may find yourself in a situation where the vehicle is unable to provide the amount of power you need to safely navigate a maneuver.

If left unaddressed, slipping can cause damage to your car that's costly to repair. If your car is having a problem with slipping, stop driving and have a mechanic address the issue.

Does an Automatic Transmission Have a Clutch?

Automatic cars don't have the same type of clutch system that manual cars use. Automatic cars primarily rely on a torque converter to send power from the engine to the wheels. They also use a series of clutches known as clutch packs. These are used to help govern the multiple gears that these cars have.