Are things normal with your transmission?

MOST of us care very little about the mechanics of a vehicle. All that we are concerned with is that when we get into our vehicles and turn the key in the ignition, the vehicle will fire up and we will get to go on our merry way. And auto mechanic Hockell Stewart, who specialises in transmission care and repair, said that crucial to executing this smoothly is a transmission in good shape.

“The transmission is that part of the car or vehicle that is responsible for transferring the power generated in the engine to the wheels of the car; which basically means that it acts as a mediator between the engine and the wheels,” Stewart said

He explained that what happens is that the transmission, which is also referred to as the gearbox, converts the high power produced by the engine into torque, or what is called rotational force. The torque is then transferred to the axles which then rotate the wheels of the vehicle.

“There are two main types of transmission — manual and automatic as we know them. As the names suggest, both transmissions get the same job done; however, as the name suggests, the manual gearbox would require that the driver manually changes the gear ratios, while automatic transmissions use fluid pressure to achieve this,” Stewart explained.

He said that while the automatic transmission is the transmission of choice for manufacturers, both have their shortcomings. For example, he says that a manual transmission requires less maintenance, the driver has more control of it, it’s easier to repair and tends to have better fuel economy. The automatic transmission is more expensive to repair, but their parts are much easier to source, are easier to use, and are more convenient.

Regardless of the type of transmission that you may have, Stewart said that if transmissions are not adequately cared for, or are overlooked, which he says is too often the case, then you may end up having either a hefty repair bill, especially in the case of automatic transmissions, or have them replaced altogether.

“When a transmission is going bad there a number of different signs that it will give off. For example, a popular one is that the vehicle will delay movement, or when you are shifting gears you realise that the vehicle is not responding immediately. These are definitely red flags because transmissions were designed to go into the correct gear every time and so hesitation is a sure sign something is wrong,” Stewart advised.

Below Stewart shares a list of other things that may suggest that things are not normal with your transmission.

Fluid is leaking from your transmission

Fluid leaking from your car is almost never a good sign. This could be caused by any number of things such as out of balance drive shaft or damaged bell housings. Stewart said that another way to identify when there is a leak is by paying close attention to your transmission fluid level.

The transmission warning light comes on

Thanks to modern technology, if you are driving a newer model car, chances are that your car will pick up on irregularities, for example, it may pick up that the transmission fluid temperature is too high and activate the warning light.

Strange sounds

With your car, strange sounds are almost always a cause for alarm. The sounds will vary depending on whether you have a manual or automatic transmission. In the case of the former, the driver may hear a grinding noise or feeling when they shift into a new gear, or may notice that the car has abnormal vibrations or shaking when moving into each gear.

Stewart recommends that all drivers take some time to see to the care of their transmission. One way to always be on top of this is by doing the dipstick inspection frequently. He recommends that you always keep in mind that if the fluid becomes brownish in colour, especially if accompanied by a burnt aroma, it is definitely time to change the fluid because it can no longer disperse the heat the transmission generates. Additionally, he says that drivers should always aim to ensure that the fluid is pinkish or almost clear.