How Transmission Repair Impacts Your Car’s Performance

You’re out on the open road, cruising along in fourth gear when you see something on the road in the distance. As you downshift, the transmission hesitates before engaging again. You have a moment of panic before the gear re-engages. If the object had been closer, you might have hit it, damaging the car or causing a crash.

A car’s transmission is a vital part of a vehicle’s overall operation and reliability. When the transmission isn’t functioning at top performance, it affects the other systems in your vehicle: mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical. A faulty transmission also puts the driver in danger on the road.

Let’s take a look at how transmission repair impacts the overall performance of a vehicle and some ways drivers can avoid the need for costly transmission service.

When you need a transmission problem diagnosed or a transmission repair, come to the transmission shop at Tire Works Total Car Care! Schedule an appointment here!

Transmission Service and Repair Affects Your Entire Vehicle

It isn’t an overstatement to say that your car can’t move without its transmission. Before failing completely, though, the overall function of the car is affected by transmission problems in several ways. This makes it difficult to diagnose other issues in your car’s performance. Is the problem a brake issue or a clutch issue? Is the engine overheating because of a lack of motor oil, or is it the differential in the transmission? Is it only a matter of a transmission fluid change?

It’s hard to tell without the expertise of a professional mechanic. Here are some of the major systems affected if the transmission in a car isn’t working properly.

Mechanical Systems

Whether you have a car with manual or automatic transmission, you will have difficulty controlling your car if the transmission is not operating at 100% efficiency. In fact, if your transmission has failed completely, the car won’t move at all.

The transmission is a mechanical gearbox and all gearboxes work in similar ways. A gear lever selects a gear, either manually or automatically, and then allows the gears to connect to one another. There are two primary ways this happens in a vehicle.

In a car with a manual transmission, the driver carries out the procedure by disengaging the transmission with the clutch and manually shifting a gear lever. The driver then releases the clutch to re-engage the gearbox.

As the driver goes through this series of actions, a dragging clutch or a clutch that fails to disengage is a sign of transmission issues. The clutch continues to spin with the vehicle’s engine, and you will hear a grinding noise. Noises like this in a car are never good, and in this case, can lead to parts wearing out prematurely and the engine overheating.

In a car with an automatic transmission, the transmission operates on its own as the gearbox shifts through the gears. This aligns with the speed of the car and RPMs being generated. The driver’s only job is to use a gear lever in the car to choose basic functions: drive, neutral, reverse, park, or overdrive. A slipping gear train puts the driver in a dangerous situation by creating pockets of time when the driver isn’t in control of the vehicle.

Our ASE-certified mechanics are trained to diagnose mechanical issues related to your transmission so this doesn’t happen to you! They have the professional experience to repair transmission problems or to replace the transmission if necessary.

Set an appointment now to have this checked in our transmission shop!

Electrical Systems and Computer Controls

The interplay between the transmission and all the electrical systems in your car is complex. Cars manufactured today rely on these electrical systems, so if they malfunction, they can affect other parts of the car. These problems can then lead to mechanical damage to the transmission.

Even simple manual transmissions use electronic sensors to work properly. One sensor communicates the transmission data to the vehicle's powertrain control module. The other sensor monitors the output shaft speed to reduce or increase power. If these sensors fail, the transmission won’t operate properly and a crash could occur.

Automatic transmissions have by far the most electronics with sensors. One alerts the driver of mechanical problems. Others tell the engine to reduce power due to excessive torque input. The Transmission Control Module (TCM) or Powertrain Control Module (PCM) uses a control module to regulate speed, gear changes, and clutch engagement. The TCM makes these decisions based on the information it receives from the engine. It is the key to shifting gears and changing speed.

Electric sensors and the information flowing through the computerized components are key in modern automobiles. Any interruption in this flow of data results in expensive repairs and possibly a transmission replacement. Even worse, it could mean your safety is at risk.

Hydraulic Systems

Noise, climbing temperatures, and slow or erratic operation are all signs of hydraulics problems. The most common causes of poor hydraulic performance are particulate or water contamination, clogged filters, high fluid temperature, and incorrect hydraulic fluids.

If your manual transmission doesn’t shift gears when you press the clutch and move the gearshift, your clutch fluid could be the issue. Your car’s hydraulic clutch system works by generating pressure through the fluid. The cylinders then move from one gear to another. If the gears aren’t shifting, there may be air in the system, which prevents the clutch from creating enough pressure to do its job.

This hydraulic problem is solved by bleeding the clutch. A small amount of the clutch fluid is released through the bleeder valve to get rid of the trapped air and the fluid is then replaced. Your clutch should then re-engage. You may want to consult with one of our Tire Works mechanics about how to deal with a continuous leak of air into the system.

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Situations That Can Cause Transmission Failure

The transmission is one of the most expensive components in a car to repair. And replacing the transmission will result in sticker shock for most households. Avoid this by understanding how the following can lead to transmission trouble and unnecessary repairs.

Shifting While The Vehicle Is Still Moving

If you have an automatic transmission, make sure the car has come to a stop before changing gears. The teeth in the gears will grind against each other if you are shifting while the car is still moving. This leads to damaged gears and can also affect the driveshaft and the suspension.

Using Improper Fluid and Allowing Fluid Levels to Get Too Low

The transmission in your car requires a certain type of fluid. This fluid keeps the gears lubricated and prevents grinding. Also, there are different types of transmission fluids for different types of vehicles. Check your owner’s manual for the transmission fluid recommended for your vehicle. Keep up with transmission fluid changes. It’s a small action that reaps important benefits for your safety and the proper performance of your vehicle.

Not Having Your Transmission Serviced

During routine transmission service, our Tire Works mechanics will inspect, diagnose, and repair. They will flush the transmission fluid, and then refill it. This removes dirt and contaminants that build up in the transmission. If this service is ignored, the transmission parts will begin to degrade. Ask our service staff to set up your next transmission service at the end of each appointment.

Towing Without Proper Towing Capabilities

Towing heavy objects that your car isn’t rated to tow puts a damaging strain on the transmission. It can overheat and cause transmission failure. This then leads to the engine overheating. Check your owner’s manual for the towing capability of your vehicle.

Tire Works Is Your Transmission Shop!

The transmission plays a critical role in your car’s operation. It isn’t a DIY project for most people; it’s complicated and affects many other systems in your car.

Tire Works wants to be your transmission shop. Set an appointment today!

Set an appointment now to have this checked in our transmission shop!