Is A Drivetrain The Same Thing As A Transmission?

February 12, 2020 | By Mister Transmission

 Is A Drivetrain The Same Thing As A Transmission?

Most of us have visions of being something of a grease monkey. Who wouldn’t want to know how to fix their own vehicle? Maybe you just bought your first car or maybe you’ve just retired and now you have the time to commit yourself to learning about automobiles. Regardless of who you are, you will find that vehicles are complicated. Like, really complicated. Forget knowing how to fix a vehicle, or even how it works, just learning the names of everything can be a real ordeal. For example, what the heck is a drivetrain? Is it the same thing as a transmission, or what?

What Is The Purpose Of The Drivetrain?

The drivetrain isn’t one single thing. It’s a group of components that deliver power to the driving wheels. The purpose of a drivetrain is to transmit power to whichever wheels drive your vehicle. The drivetrain physically links the engine to the axle(s) via a drive shaft. But this is tricky because the operating speed of the engine and the wheels are different and so they must be matched by the correct gear ratio. As the vehicle’s speed changes, the ideal engine speed must remain more or less constant for efficient operation and so this gearbox ratio has to also be changed, either manually, automatically, or by an automatic continuous variation, i.e.: via a manual, automatic, or CVT transmission.

So, is a drivetrain the same thing as a transmission? No. Well, kind of. The term “drivetrain” usually refers to all the parts that transfer power from the engine to the wheels, so the transmission is actually part of the drivetrain, along with the axles, torque converter or clutch. “Power train” usually refers to all of these and the engine.

What Can Cause A Drivetrain Malfunction?

There are many possible causes of a drivetrain malfunction. The kind of malfunction that you are experiencing will hint at what the cause is. First, there are all the standard transmission problems you could be experiencing: overheating, damaged transmission fluid or a lack of fluid, a fluid leak, or too much friction within the transmission. The torque converter can also be a cause of a drivetrain malfunction. Blown head gaskets, problematic fuel injectors, air flow issues can also cause drivetrain malfunctions.

How Do I Know If My Drivetrain Is Bad?

Is your transmission overheating? Are you slipping into neutral after changing gears? Are you experiencing grinding when you shift gears? Do you hear weird noises like humming or clunking, even when in neutral? All of these are tip offs that your drivetrain has got problems.

How Much Does It Cost To Fix A Drivetrain?

This question really is impossible to answer in an article that could be read by thousands of different people with hundreds of different types and configurations of drivetrain. It might be as cheap as a hundred bucks or so to inspect, find a common problem, and fix it quickly. Or it could cost you thousands of dollars if your drivetrain or transmission needs to be rebuilt or replaced. One thing’s for sure: drivetrains don’t magically fix themselves and the cost of drivetrain repairs only increase over time.

Mister Transmission

To learn more about drivetrains, please contact us.

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My CVT transmission died. Spoke to Dave on phone and told me get in for a free analysis. When I got there Frank went through all the possible solutions to attack the job and how to fix it giving me different price structures. Ultimately however I decided to scrap the vehicle because of the many kilometers it had. Thanks again gentlemen
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Great service as always, Dan
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I just wanted to write something for everyone to know, there is still good peoples out there, but it took God direction to meet them. I met Aki and his team, this guy's are awesome, infact they are doing a great job. I would recommend mister transmission Dixie road to everyone who need to fixed their car and you will never regret.
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Very reliable and helpful place to go get your transmission work done. They stay within the quote they give you before tax. 10/10 recommend these gentleman helping you out.
Date: March 9, 2024
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These guys are great!!! I...
Paul Poirier
These guys are great!!! I had an issue with my transmission called them and they got me in the same day. They had the issue diagnosed in minutes. Solved the problem and got me out in the same day. Really impressed and will go to them first if I ever have a transmission issue again. Thank you!!!
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Pam Shere
There is customer service and then there is amazing customer service. These guys have the amazing. I can't say enough good things. I can always rely on staff to give me an honest assessment, and show me what is going on, and treat me well during the experience. I never feel like a woman being taken advantage of. The staff makes me feel welcome, almost like a part of their own family. The prices are fair, the shop is clean, and the location is easy to access. Even if you just need to come in for an assessment or to investigate what is going on, these guys have you covered. I highly recommend.
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Had a great experience here...
Brooke Berkech
Had a great experience here at mister transmission. great customer service and kind gentleman. highly recommended for any transmission issues you have:)
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best transmission shop around
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