Closer look at an Automatic transmission
The automatic transmission is one of the most complex components of your vintage muscle car.You may not be able to repair an automatic transmission on your own, but there are checks you can make first as well as ways to avoid getting ripped off on your repair bills. You will be empowered if you understand and are able to question what is on the bill. The following checks can be applied whether the transmission will not engauge at all or shifts sluggishly. Click the hand picked links at the end of this chapter for information on how the automatic transmission works.
ID 14009429 © Yang Yu | Dreamstime.com
There are five main parts or groups of parts in an automatic transmission:
- Bell housing-this is the cone shaped housing bolted to the back of the engine on a conventional rear wheel drive vehicle.
- The bell housing holds the torque converter which receives momentum from the engines flex plate. The torque converter rotates and performs a number of functions including: provide a fluid engine coupling to the transmission, powers the front fluid pump and increases the engines torque.
- Transmission fluid-it is very important to keep the fluid fresh as it is a key ingredient to a fully functional transmission
- The filter will catch any floating partials and should be changed regularly.
- Gears-planetary and main gears with a host of smaller parts
Cutout image below shows the bell housing connection to the engine on the left side-the right side is linked to the drive shaft
© Goce | Dreamstime.com – Car Automatic Transmission Part Photo
An automatic transmission that shifts erratically shifts slowly or clunks into gear is in need of service. The dash fault code lights for a modern unit will light up on the dash but an older style transmission we can skip that and check the fluid first.
© Bizoon | Dreamstime.com – Automatic Gear Shifter Photo
The fluid level in a transmission should be checked according to each manufacturer’s instructions. Fresh transmission fluid will be red (most automatic fluids) while fluid in need of a change will be black and may smell burnt. Before you remove the inspection plate look for sighs of leaking, both around the cover gasket and at the base of the dip stick; they will not be hard to spot on the sealed automatic system. Other places to look for a leak are where the selector shaft enters the top of the unit, at the speed sensor mounting and at the transmission connection to the engine, but if the tranny has a cooler check the hose connections both at the transmission and where the hoses are attached to the cooler. The transmission fluid will not mix with the radiator fluid but a red foreign substance floating around is a certain sign of a leak. The fluid and filter can both be changed by removing the cover plate to drain the fluid. The fluid and filter should both be changed before you even think of replacing the transmission because a clogged filter could be the root of the problem. Clean the cover’s inner side and check for metal filings when you do. Some say that synthetic oil will work well in higher heat conditions and may be a good choice for a troublesome automatic. The best hedge against untimely repair bills is to properly maintain the transmission to extend its life as long as possible
The CVT or Continuously Variable Transmission is a very simple automatic available now on some Nissan products as well as various Hybrid and electric vehicles now in use. This transmission was first manufactured for a passenger car in Holland by DAF Corporation from 1961 through 1969 as the “Variomatic”. The transmission of power is done by a belt turning on a cone, sliding to a progressively higher gear ratio as the vehicle accelerates. This however is not a new idea and the first known sketch of one is credited to Leonardo da Vinci in 1490.
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