The transmission is one of the most expensive part of a standard vehicle , second only to the engine. Even if you are handy with car maintenance, serious transmission issues are some of the most difficult repairs to make. How long do transmissions last? The answer often depends on the care you put into your vehicle before transmission issues even begin. Without service and maintenance, some transmissions can fail in as little as , miles.
If you drive around , miles a year, your transmission could be down for the count in seven years! With care and service, transmissions can last , miles or more. Scheduled fluid changes , transmission inspections, and band adjustments can save you thousands of dollars down the line from a premature transmission failure. Though there may not be a transmission warning light on your dash, the check engine light can often spell transmission trouble. A mechanic can diagnose your car by reading the error code generated by your onboard computer.
That said, you will have to replace the clutch the thing that separates the engine from the transmission while you change gears every so often. And depending on the vehicle, a new clutch can be expensive. Most car owners have their engine serviced regularly, but many completely ignore their transmission until it breaks.
If the fluid level gets low , the internal components of your transmission can overheat and cause irreversible damage. Like an engine, a transmission has oil and a filter that needs to be changed every 20,, miles, or once every 18 months. For newer cars, you should also have the transmission flushed every 40,, miles or every 2 years, to remove all of the sediment and debris from the torque converter and cooler lines.
Vehicles with manual transmissions should have the clutch fluid and gearbox oil changed every 30,, miles. Over time, heat breaks down the organic compounds in ordinary automatic transmission fluid, rendering it much less effective.
Some newer transmissions, including the Chrysler NAG1, don't offer dipsticks for routine checks. Instead a technician has a special dipstick used in conjunction with a chart and an electronic scan of the transmission temperature to determine the proper level. Other manufacturers, including GM, have sealed transmissions that are only serviceable by trained technicians with the correct tools.
While maintenance is key to auto part longevity, being aware of any bangs, whines or groans from the transmission, as well as smells, will help head off any problems at an early stage. An automatic transmission is essentially a large and complex hydraulic circuit. Each design creates a different circuit, but each works in what amounts to the same fashion.
Any hydraulic system has the same basic components:. The primary physical law behind the automatic transmission was defined by the French scientist Blaise Pascal more than years ago. He discovered liquids could readily transfer force because they were non-compressible.
More importantly, force moving via a liquid could be transferred in a more flexible manner. Pascal also found the force applied to a liquid, thereby creating pressure, could be modified to create a mechanical advantage. This meant small amounts of force within a hydraulic circuit could be translated into large amounts of force. This can be seen in things like hydraulic jacks where one human being can raise several tons by applying hydraulic forces.
It can also be seen in car brakes where a person's foot can apply enough force to stop a one-ton car moving at highway speeds. It's all hydraulic force, and it's all due to fluid. When a transmission stops working, the most likely cause is most often deep inside the component, and sometimes the most cost effective way to handle the issue is to replace it. But removing and replacing a transmission is tricky.
Remember, transmissions don't stand alone. They're an integral part of the car and a wide knowledge of automobiles as a whole, as well as specific knowledge of the techniques required to remove and replace a transmission, is necessary. The following list should give you an idea of just some of the steps that a technician will go through to remove a front-wheel-drive automatic transmission:. Depending on the year, make and model of the vehicle you're working on, the actual list of things to do can be much longer and more involved.
It also doesn't take into account rusty bolts, corroded fittings and the fact that transmissions can weigh hundreds of pounds and are difficult to maneuver in confined spaces -- like the engine compartment.
But once the transmission is out, the real work begins. If the transmission is being replaced, the new transmission, either reconditioned or new, must be checked out.
The front pump and torque converter also need to be inspected and installed, and all sensors, solenoids, valve body and filters changed out, replaced and checked.
If an overhaul is recommended, the transmission is disassembled, each part is inspected and measured, and worn components are replaced, as well as seals, bearings and bushings. Once everything is ready to go, the transmission is then reassembled.
Depending on whether a new transmission is installed or an older one is overhauled, the process can take anywhere from five to more than 15 hours of labor time. Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe. Under the Hood. Car Part Longevity. Some transmissions can last just over 10, miles, while others will last over , miles. The transmission is linked to other parts of the car like the chassis, engine, electronic systems, and differentials.
Transmissions are designed for specific purposes, tolerances and work with specific types of fluids. Not all fluids are equal and right for every transmission.
There are over fifty different types and grades of fluid on the market today. Each type and grade provides a different amount of slip for your vehicle. Slip affects the amount of heat generated to your transmission; meaning fluid has a big influence on heat and pressure placed on your transmission.
0コメント