TRANSMISSION SERVICE & REPAIRS

A transmission is the link between the engine and differential. Its purpose is to transmit engine torque to the driving wheels. Transmission performance is heavily dependant on engine performance. If the engine is not supplying enough power to the transmission, transmission performance may be compromised.

• There is evidence of transmission fluid leaks
• The car feels like it is labouring too much
• Engine revs excessively for the speed the car is moving
• Strange noises or shudders, like a clunking or grating from underneath
• If the car falls back in gears when it shouldn’t
• If it appears to skip gears
• If the transmission “does not quite feel right”
• Slipping between gears
• Strange shudders and vibrations
• High engine revs between gears
• Does not go into top gear
• Lost reverse
• Lost all drive gears

There’s a lot you can learn about the condition of your transmission just by examining the fluid. New transmission fluid is usually transparent, and relatively odorless. Most transmission fluids are red, but manufacturers have in recent time started to introduce alternative colours. Virtually in every case, clean fluid will look and smell clean, indicating that your transmission appears to be in good shape.

If your transmission fluid is starting to look slightly brownish and has a slightly burnt odour, the fluid’s beginning to burn, and a service should be considered sooner rather than later. Brown or black transmission fluid with a distinctively burnt odour would indicate that fluid is burnt. At this stage there’s little doubt that the transmission is already or beginning to wear and you may already be experiencing unusual transmission behaviour and/or problems. A transmission service at this stage may buy you some time but more likely than not you will be facing major transmission repairs sooner rather than later.

The Transmission is a vehicle’s most complicated and commonly least understood major component. Transmissions are made up of thousands of internal parts, classified as soft & hard parts. In later model cars, it is a combination of soft, hard & sophisticated hydraulics and computer & solenoid controlled components. Front wheel drive vehicles also incorporate the differential into the transmission housing itself. When the transmission or differential fails, it is generally more expensive to repair than in rear wheel drives due to this incorporation.

During a major repair both for front and rear wheel drive cars, these internal parts are removed, cleaned, and inspected to exacting tolerances. Any worn or damaged parts are repaired or replaced before being put together into one of many subassemblies, which again must be adjusted and tested for proper operation. These subassemblies must then be assembled into the transmission case, where the adjustment and testing procedure begins all over again. Finally, once the transmission is completely assembled, it has to be reinstalled.

To provide you with an accurate cost estimate, various tests need to be performed to accurately assess your transmission’s condition. Once the type of transmission has been identified, the specific problem is diagnosed by testing & and isolating each specific component. Finally, a determination of the likely causes for the problem, based on this logical diagnostic process is made. Once all the information is on hand an accurate estimate of the costs can be provided.

Automotive transmissions are made up of thousands of individual components, catagorised as soft, hard and electronic parts. Commonly, transmission problems start when soft parts or friction materials bonded to metal plates (referred to as clutches, bands, rubber or neoprene seals) and bushings wear out from normal usage. When seals lose their flexibility and the friction materials and bushings become worn, slippage and other malfunctions occur. If these problems are not attended to reasonably promptly, more serious and costly wear occurs to the hard parts (metal drums, gears and pumps) of the transmission.

Checking the transmission fluid level requires working under the hood of your car with the engine running. This can be very dangerous if you are not sure what you are doing. 1- Make sure your car is on level ground. 2- Start the engine. 3- Bring the engine and transmission to normal operating temperature. The easiest way to do this is to check the fluid level right after driving the car for a while. 4- Hold your foot on the brake, and work the shifter slowly through the gears. Give the transmission a second or two in each gear range. 5- Put the shifter all the way back into park. 6- Set the parking brake. 7- Open the hood. 8- Find the transmission dipstick (your owners manual should show you where to look for the transmission dipstick): 9- Remove the dipstick, and wipe it off with a clean rag or paper towel. 10- Slide the dipstick all the way back down into the transmission fill tube. 11- Pull the dipstick back out, and check the fluid level against the markings on the end of the dipstick

NOTE:

If your transmission does not have a dip stick but is a sealed unit, special equipment is needed to check fluid level & condition. You will need a professional to check it for you.

We service most makes and models including: Audi, BMW, Daewoo, Daihatsu, Ford, Holden, Honda, Jeep, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Saab, Suzuki, Toyota, Volkswagen/VW and Land Rover/Range Rover.