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Your Guide to

TRANSMISSION CARE

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Your Guide to TRANSMISSION CARE

There are many important parts that help make your vehicle run as smoothly as possible. One such part is the transmission which works closely with the engine under the hood. The transmission plays a vital role in the functionality of your vehicle. Without it, your vehicle would not be able to move.

With that being said, you need to take good care of your transmission. Your Guide to Transmission Care contains all the information you need to:

• Understand how the transmission in your vehicle works • What your transmission needs throughout its lifespan • How to check your transmission fluid at home • How to flush your own transmission fluid • Common problems your transmission can encounter • Symptoms that your transmission is in trouble

Using this detailed and comprehensive guide, you’ll be able to take good care of your transmission and ensure that it keeps you going for as long as possible. Let’s get started by learning a little more about what a transmission is and how it works!



What Your Transmission Is and DoesThe job of the transmission is relatively simple. This part of the vehicle takes the energy being made by the engine and disperses it between the four wheels of your vehicle. How much power goes to each wheel largely depends on what gear you’re in – the higher the gear that you’re in, the more power the transmission can transfer and the faster you can go.

The Different Types of TransmissionsThere are three different types of transmissions that you’ll see in cars today – manual transmissions, automatic transmissions, and Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVTs). Manual transmissions were the original transmissions of modern cars. Then, modern automatic transmissions were introduced to the public market in the 1930s. CVTs came last and are still considered relatively rare with most automakers still in the conception stages of their own CVT systems.

What sets these transmissions apart from each other is how they work:

Manual Transmissions come with a driver-operated clutch and a gear stick. Using these two features, the driver can manually switch into a desired gear in order to get the power that they need for the speed that they want to go.

Automatic Transmissions works the same way as a manual transmission does except that it includes a small computer that does the shifting for you based on preset gear ratios.

Continuously Variable Transmissions are a type of automatic transmission in the sense that you, the driver, don’t have to do any shifting. However, this type of automatic transmission works virtually without any set gears in order to optimize both power and efficiency.

Regardless of what kind of transmission you have in your vehicle, it will still need to be serviced regularly. It’s recommended by most manufacturers and technicians that your transmission be serviced between every 30,000 and 90,000 miles. Most drivers have their transmissions serviced around every 60,000 miles or every three or four years depending on how often you drive.



Checking Transmission Fluid 101One of the things that all three types of transmissions have in common is that they all operate using transmission fluid. This fluid plays an important role in keeping your transmission clean and lubricated so that it can perform its job without getting clogging up or overheated. It’s also in charge of conditioning the transmission’s gaskets and increasing rotational speed.

Since transmission fluid has such an integral job, it’s important to keep tabs on its condition. You can do this right at home in between service visits. The whole process should only take about ten minutes if you follow these detailed instructions:

1. Park your vehicle on a level surface. 2. Get behind the wheel and start the engine. 3. Shift through all the different gears before shifting back into park. 4. Get out of the vehicle with the engine still running and pop the

front hood. 5. Find the transmission dipstick and pull it out. 6. Wipe the dipstick off with a paper towel or clean rag. 7. Feed the dipstick back into the transmission fill tube until it’s in its

original position. 8. Pull the dipstick back out again. 9. Inspect the dipstick to see where the fluid line falls. It should be

between the minimum (“MIN”) and maximum (“MAX”) lines.

While you’re looking at how much transmission fluid you have, you should also check on the condition of your transmission fluid. Good transmission fluid should be clear, smooth, and just about odorless. The darker, grittier, and smellier it gets, the worse condition it’s in.

Based on what you find when you check your transmission fluid, you’ll need to do one of three things. If the fluid is fine, just turn the car off and shut the hood. If it’s too low or too high, top off your transmission fluid or drain some of it. If the fluid has a strange color or consistency, it’s time to visit the service center.



Common Transmission ProblemsLike the many other parts in your vehicle, the transmission is built to withstand quite a bit of heat and pressure. However, problems can still occur from time to time. The most common problem that you’ll encounter is old, dirty, and/or low transmission fluid.

Transmission fluid helps to keep your transmission clean so that it doesn’t get clogged up and sluggish by picking up dirt and other debris as it’s lubricating the transmission. However, after a while, this fluid gets too dirty and can no longer pick up debris. Subsequently, the transmission can overheat, become delayed, or even stop working completely.

If your vehicle has a manual transmission, there are a few other problems you need to watch out for. The two most common problems that you’ll see with this type of transmission are worn down gear synchronizers and a worn down clutch.

All parts in your vehicle experience wear-and-tear. As a high-intensity part, parts of the transmission can get worn down faster than expected. The wear-down of these parts can be caused by a couple of different things including leaks, mechanical errors, and human errors.



If you have an automatic transmission, you may encounter failed needle roller bearings. These bearings roll around in the transmission’s torque converter and their sole purpose is to prevent the gears from grinding together. These bearings can be worn down over time which can eventually cause the gears to grind together.

Signs that Your Transmission is in TroubleThere are a variety of things that can happen with your transmission. Thankfully, there are also a variety of ways to catch these problems before they get too far beyond the point of repair. The most common signs that your transmission is experiencing a problem include:

• “ Check engine” light is on – The most common warning sign that your transmission is experiencing a problem is the “check engine” warning light coming up on your dashboard.

• Unusual noises – The transmission is making weird noises that could sound like grinding, bumping, whining, clunking, or humming. These noises more commonly happen in neutral when they’re related to the transmission but can also happen while you’re in gear.

• Burning smell – If your transmission is overheating, the transmission fluid that keeps it lubricated could be burning as it’s trying to cool it down.

• Won’t go into gear – When you try to manually shift into a different gear, the stick won’t budge and/or the clutch pedal will not depress.

• Frequent gear slippage – The transmission will slip from one gear to another without you initiating the gear switch.

• Leaking transmission fluid – Under your vehicle, you’ll find a puddle of pink-ish or red-ish fluid. This is transmission fluid and can mean that a part in your transmission is broken or loose.

• Vibrations – Problems with the transmission can often manifest themselves in noticeably unusual shaking of the whole vehicle, the steering wheel, or the gear clutch.



• Delayed or no response – When you attempt to switch into a different gear, it takes longer than it should or doesn’t shift at all the first time around.

• Surging – When you’re driving, you’ll feel a sensation of surging forward or falling backward.

These are the most common symptoms of an engine problem. If you experience any of these signs, it’s time to get on the phone with your technician to schedule a service appointment.

Happy Driving!In Your Guide to Transmission Care, you learned all kinds of things about your transmission including how it works, what can go wrong with it, how to service it, and much more. Now that you have a better idea of what’s going on under the hood, you’ll be able to catch problems with your transmission before they get bad and preserve the quality of your vehicle.

However, you don’t have to take on this aspect of car ownership alone. Finding a trusted service center in your area can lift a lot of that weight off of your shoulders. The technicians that service your vehicle have many years of experience and are happy to answer any questions you may have!

your guide to transmission care - fred beans · your transmission is experiencing a problem is the...

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