How Automatic Transmissions Work

Understanding Your Automatic Transmission Can Help Prolong Its Life

How often do you think about your car’s transmission and how it works? We all live busy lives and each morning we’re much more concerned with getting the kids off to school, that big meeting at work, and how soon we can hit the road for the cottage on Friday night. Most of us never think about what’s going on under the hood of the vehicle that takes us to all of these places.

The truth is, once we shift into drive and venture out, we usually don’t care how it works, just as long it does. But understanding a little more about how your automatic transmission works can help to save you time, hassle and money in the long run.

Shift Your Thinking About Your Automatic Transmission

Imagine a simple drive to the local grocery store. A task that is easy enough for you, but your transmission is hard at work. According to Jim Hodgson of the Mister Transmission in Peterborough, Ontario, “A short trip to the corner store can have your transmission shifting 25 to 30 times. This may not sound like much, but now imagine how many trips like that you make in a year. It can really add up.”

What seems like such a natural and yes, automatic, occurrence to you is in fact a complex series of mechanical, hydraulic and electrical conversions. Your car transmission is where the power from your engine is passed to the drive shafts to start the wheels turning and keep them running. A series of gears work together in constant motion to engage at the most efficient ratios for your engine’s optimal operation.

The Automatic Transmission Advantage

When driving a vehicle with a manual transmission, you need to monitor the RPM’s or Revolutions Per Minute of the engine, engage the clutch at the right time and ease off the clutch with strategic timing to engage the gears and move forward. When the vehicle is at a full stop, the clutch must be engaged to prevent the gears from engaging, which would cause the engine to stall.

Automatic transmission gears are monitored by a computer, which controls the shift points electronically. A torque converter replaces the clutch and uses the pressure and flow of transmission fluid to not only regulate the gear changes, but to also allow the engine to continue running even when at a full stop. It also makes for a smoother shift between gears.

When fluid levels in the transmission drop, so does the pressure that controls the shifting of gears. This can cause friction and less effective cooling, opening the door to damage and potentially expensive repairs.

 

Automatic Transmission Problems to Recognize

By having an awareness of the important relationship between the electrical, mechanical and hydraulic components of this complex system, you can be aware of the symptoms that could mean automatic transmission problems and how to prevent them.

Here are some of the changes to watch for:

• Grinding or “growling” noises that could indicate a potential transmission problem.
• A delay in movement when accelerating or late shifting to the next gear while driving. This could be a sign of  transmission slipping.
• A transmission fluid leak.  If the fluid is low, there is a leak.  Transmission fluid is recognizable by its reddish colour.
• Overheating of the engine. The transmission is cooled by the engine’s radiator, so if the engine overheats, it could damage the transmission.
• Discolouration or a burnt odor when you check your transmission fluid, which is an indication of overheating and fluid breakdown.

Take Action and Take Care of Your Automatic Transmission

If you notice any of these symptoms, don’t wait to get your car in for transmission service. As Leonard Mizzi of the Sault Ste. Marie Mister Transmission location notes,

“A lot of transmission repairs could be prevented, but people keep driving without checking the fluid, hoping the problem will fix itself.”

The next time you head to the corner store, pay attention to your transmission and take care of it so that it will continue to get you where you want to go.

If you are experiencing a problem with your vehicle’s transmission, please contact your local Mister Transmission and book an appointment for our FREE 21-Point Multi-Check Inspection.