Everything You Need to Know About Your Transmission

The transmission is one of the most intricate parts of your vehicle. This being said, sometimes drivers get confused about what it actually does and why it’s important. Transmissions are a lot more important than people think, and here we will discuss why.

What does it do?

The transmission is the machine in your car that transmits the power from your engine to the wheels so that your car moves as fast or as slow as you want it to. It does so use a torque converter that works using fluid dynamics that are virtually impossible to explain without using complex mathematical equations. In short, the faster the engine spins, the more torque is transmitted through the fluid inside the transmission and the faster your wheels spin. More specific ways that it works depends on whether or not your car is automatic or manual.

How to take care of it

Seeing that it’s such a complex part of the car, transmissions are pretty expensive to fix and any measures to avoid replacement should be taken. To take good care of your transmission, you should do the following: Check and change transmission fluid regularly, boost transmission functionality with additives, avoid riding your brakes, get regular tune-ups, let your engine warm up before driving, avoid frequently hauling heavy loads in your vehicle, and get repairs or see a mechanic whenever a warning sign arises. Maintaining your transmission can be easy and cheap, but if you let it go too long without servicing it’s much more expensive to fix.

What if I need mine replaced?

On average, a replacement transmission can cost between $4,000 and $8,000… yikes! While we hope you have taken measures to prevent failure, we understand that sometimes things happen. A used or “rebuilt” transmission costs between $2,000-$3,800 on average and is obviously cheaper than buying a new one. If you are looking for a used transmission, you can find them at auto-recycling centers, salvage yards, transmission shops and auto-parts dealers.You should also try to negotiate a warranty anytime you purchase a used transmission just in case something goes wrong. That’s a lot of money for a faulty part! Even if you can’t find a used transmission on sale it could be much cheaper for you to purchase a transmission case and have one rebuilt for you.

Let’s face it, without a transmission your car isn’t going anywhere. That’s why it’s important to understand its functions, how to take care of it and what to do in case you need a replacement. You can avoid expensive repairs and a lot of stress just by taking care of the transmission in your car, and we hope you have a better understanding of your transmission after reading this!