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    Transmission Tech

    April 24th, 2010

    ACDelco and Motorcraft OEM Auto Parts OE Parts Headquarters

    Finding the problem with your transmission

    Your car s transmission can potentially last the lifetime of your vehicle. A lot depends on your driving habits and whether you keep the fluid levels replenished, as needed. Even then, things can go wrong. You might notice problems as the assembly tries to shift; it may have difficulty finding the right gears. You might hear a high pitched whine while driving. You may also feel a lurching motion as your tranny shifts. All of these are warning signs that something is wrong with the assembly. The challenge is finding the problem.


    Below, I ll explain why diagnosing transmission issues is challenging, even for specialists. I ll also describe a couple of problems that can cause your tranny to act strangely.

    Diagnostic Codes And The Path To Resolution

    Automatics are nearly always more difficult to diagnose than manual trannys. Older automatic assemblies are especially problematic because they do not produce diagnostic codes. If you own an older vehicle and your transmission begins to behave oddly, the mechanic will be forced to start from scratch when identifying the issue. Unless he is very experienced, he will basically be flying blind.

    Newer cars are equipped with electronic assemblies. That means they ll produce one or more fault codes that will give the mechanic hints regarding the root cause of any problem you re experiencing. But, even after identifying the issue, addressing it may not be easy.

    One of the reasons most repair garages turn away transmission issues is because it is an extremely complex assembly. Aside from minor leaks, they ll usually outsource the job to a specialist. What s more, if there are several individual components that are either failing or about to do so, the specialist will often recommend replacing the entire tranny. The reason is due to the level of work involved with repairing or replacing parts. Some components require that the tranny be disassembled.

    Large Leaks

    Small leaks rarely pose an immediate problem. They re relatively easy to identify by looking underneath your car, directly below your transmission. If you see a reddish fluid, it may either be fluid from the assembly or from your power steering. You can check your tranny s fluid level to verify or invalidate the leak. If one exists, you might be able to postpone repairs by keeping the fluid level replenished.

    The problem with small leaks is that they turn into big leaks. When that happens, keeping the fluid level replenished becomes far more difficult. As the leakages continue to worsen, your transmission will become increasingly exposed to low fluid levels. Eventually, you ll notice slippage, a rough shift, and even long delays before the assembly can find the right gears.

    When The Culprit Is The Torque Converter

    Sometimes, the torque converter is the culprit rather than the transmission. There are needle bearings in this component that can suffer wear and tear. When they become severely worn, they can generate a whine like noise similar to the one produced by a malfunctioning tranny.

    Torque converter problems can actually cause your engine to overheat in some circumstances. They have a clutch that might lock up, preventing fluid from circulating within. That can lead to a loss of power and even transmission failure if the locked clutch causes the fluid to overheat. The best option at that point is to replace the component.

    There are three main influences on the life of your vehicle s transmission: regular maintenance, keeping the fluid level replenished, and your driving habits. All three are simple to address. Maintenance items should be performed according to the recommended intervals listed in your owner s manual. Keeping the fluid level replenished is as simple as checking the level every three or four weeks. Your driving habits are entirely in your control. Given that replacing the transmission with a rebuilt assembly can cost thousands of dollars, it s worth caring for it properly.

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    Cool Your Transmission

    May 11th, 2010

    A simple switch to synthetic transmission fluid can save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars in costly repairs. Most transmissions run hot due to the inferior fluid they are using. There are some fluids on the market that can lower your transmission temps up to 50 degrees.

    Choosing the right lubricant can be the biggest difference in the performance of your transmission. When 92% of all transmission failures can be traced to the ATF getting too hot it only makes sense to start experimenting.

    There is an easy way to determine the best transmission fluid. Go buy a quart of your favorite brand of transmission fluid and then pick up a bottle of synthetic transmission fluid. There are very few good synthetic oils on the market and I will recommend a good one at the end of this article.

    handsontools.com

    Pour about 2-3 ounces of your favorite fluid onto a metal surface that can withstand the heat from a blowtorch. Watch how long it takes to start smoking and possibly catch on fire. If you don’t think your transmission is subjected to this type of heat think again. And if you tow then you can imagine the massive amount of heat your transmission is producing.

    Now do the same thing with a quality synthetic oil and you should notice it won’t catch on fire like the petroleum oil did. Some very good synthetic transmission fluids can withstand temperatures up to 50 degrees hotter than what petroleum will withstand.

    The other benefit to using a high quality synthetic ATF is the longer drain intervals. With some synthetic ATF’s on the market you can achieve drain intervals that exceed 100,000 miles.

    The argument that synthetic cost too much is really a mute point anymore. With 100,000 miles intervals the high cost are easily justified. Would it really matter how much more synthetic ATF cost if you knew there was a nearly 0% chance of replacing or rebuilding your transmission. Synthetics shouldn’t be considered expensive.

    Last, but not least is the affect a high quality synthetic oil will do for your fuel mileage. In most cases I have seen an increase of up to 2 more mpg. Imagine if you only had two gas stations to choose from where you live. If one of the gas stations always sold their gas for 3 cents less every single day, which one would you go to? Initially you wouldn’t think 3 cents would make much of a difference, but it clearly does.

    So the next time your transmission comes up for service, which should be around 30,000-40,000 miles for most vehicles consider switching out your fluid to a high quality synthetic oil. Don’t be fooled by the imitation synthetic oils on the market, do your homework and talk to experts about what fluids work best.

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    Torque Converter

    June 7th, 2010

    having driven a vehicle with a manual transmission, you know that the clutch is an essential part of the vehicle’s operation. It decouples the engine from the transmission, allowing the engine to move independently.

    Cars with automatic transmissions lack a clutch that would otherwise disconnect the engine from the tranny. They use a torque converter (TC) instead. It is a donut-shaped component that is located directly between your car’s engine and transmission. It transfers torque to the wheels of your vehicle. The faster your engine spins, the more torque the TC sends.

    To illustrate, suppose that you were stopped at a red traffic light. While your engine idles, it moves slowly and sends a small bit of fluid to the torque converter. Even though the TC uses that fluid to send torque to your wheels, the small amount requires only light pressure on your brake pedal to prevent moving forward. If you were to accelerate, your engine would spin faster and send more fluid to the TC. In turn, the torque converter would send more torque to the wheels. You would need to apply more braking power in order to stop your car.

    A Look Inside The Torque Converter

    The TC is comprised of three main parts: the pump, turbine, and stator. The pump is made up of fins. Fluid enters the TC through the component’s middle and is flung outward by the pump’s fins as it spins. As the fluid exits, it creates a vacuum that draws more fluid into the torque converter.

    The turbine, made up of blades, is attached to your vehicle’s transmission. As the turbine spins, it spins the tranny. The spinning activity is created by the fluid which enters the turbine from the outer perimeter and exits near the middle. However, before it exits, the fluid needs to change the direction in which it is flowing. That causes the turbine to spin.

    Between the pump and the turbine lies the stator. It is responsible for changing the direction of the fluid (again) as it leaves the turbine on it way back toward the pump. The manner in which it accomplishes this is abrupt. The stator uses a clutch to connect to your transmission. As a result, it can only rotate in one direction. As fluid comes into the stator from the turbine, its direction is brusquely changed.

    The activity taking place within the torque converter plays a dual role while you’re driving. First, it decouples the engine from the transmission, which allows you to bring your vehicle to a stop without letting the engine die. Second, it transmits torque to the wheels as you press down on your accelerator. That allows you to gain speed.

    Late-model vehicles have an additional component on the torque converter called a lockup clutch. This allows the left and right sides to lock together, effectively rotating at the same rate. The result is better fuel efficiency and less slippage.

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    What Repairs Can A Transmission Specialist Carry Out

    June 7th, 2010

    Fortunately, almost every car available today is a lot more reliable than those that were being sold just a decade ago. Now each component will have undergone extensive testing before being fitted. Though this has provided us with vehicles that are very efficient, if they are not maintained in the correct manner then problems may still develop. For example, the fluid in your transmission has to be kept at the right level; if it is not then you will need to make a trip to a transmission specialist to find a solution.

    It wasn’t that long ago that most of us would understand a greater amount about minor repair work. Today with more people living busier lives and with a greater technical design to a typical engine and transmission, the requirement for auto repair specialists is at an all time high. The more you wait the greater the chance is of the costs associated with the work being high.

    There are certain signs you can look for which would suggest that there may be a problem with your car’s transmission. If you notice any of the following issues then a trip to your local mechanic needs to be organized.

    You may already know that a transmission is not just one component; it is comprised of various parts and sections that need to fit together seamlessly. If the car has not been taken care off well then the various pieces can easily become worn and then work correctly. You will notice this when you shift does not change smoothly. Any problems with your gear shift should take you to a mechanic.

    Similar to a worn transmission, slippage can also cause problems with your gear shift. Though the stick may be in drive, pressing on the throttle has no effect. This may be caused by a low fluid level.

    The longer amount of time we own and drive a particular vehicle the more we will get used to the way it sounds. When we notice strange noises we can understand that something may have gone wrong. A transmission should not be producing any strange clunking or clicking sounds. Even by speaking to a mechanic on the phone they should be able to tell you whether or not you will need to take the vehicle in to be looked at. In most situations the work will involve stripping the assembly down to locate the cause of the noise.

    Most people always park their cars in the same place when at home or at work. This can allow you to see if any liquid is dripping from the transmission. If you ever notice any oil underneath your car then you should immediately contact a mechanic for advice.

    As more cars are hitting the roads every year the availability of professional repair firms is also increasing. Today we are lucky enough to be able to choose which garage to attend. To find a local selection you can do a quick online search.

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