Transmission trouble is something no car owner wants to hear. Yet the truth is that most simply know that is sounds expensive. However, with some basic transmission knowledge and proper transmission maintenance, replacing a transmission can be avoided until absolutely necessary. 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. There are some transmissions that only make it to the 80,000-mile mark.
Resource for this article: Transmission trouble – What every car owner must know by Car Deal Expert
Transmission trouble won’t visit so often if care is taken
Part of avoiding transmission trouble involves understanding what a transmission does for your car. It is the lynchpin of your car’s drivetrain, the system that generates power and gets your car going. Transmissions may be automatic or manual, but both work to shift gears and maintain momentum of the car on a variety of elevations, at various speeds and on different road surfaces.
While all of the internal workings of a transmission are somewhat complex, here are the four basic systems, as outlined by About.com:
- 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 does a transmission last?
”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). Build quality is often beyond one’s control, so focus on the other aspects is best.
According to How Stuff Works, transmission fluid should be checked and changed regularly, at least twice per year if not more often. 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. Consulting your auto owner’s manual is advisable here.
Do you notice a fluid leak?
If your transmission doesn’t seem to shift clearly, transmission trouble could be on the horizon. According to How Stuff Works, some places to check for red fluid leaks include:
- 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? Avoid DIY
If changing the fluids and filter aren’t enough, seriously consider using an ASE-certified mechanic who has access to Blue Seal repair digs. Expect costs in the neighborhood of $ 1,800 to $ 3,500 when replacing a transmission, advises Cost Helper. That will depend on labor costs and vehicle make, it should be known. A limited warranty on the new transmission is quite desirable to essential here. Rule of thumb is the more your car costs, the more it will cost to replace the transmission.
Read more on this topic here
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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