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Revisiting Your Vehicle’s Automatic Transmission: An Overview

Of every component or system that is responsible for your car’s performance, your automatic transmission is the most complex. It sits near the rear of your engine and transfers power to the drive wheels. It automatically selects gear ratios by monitoring the speed at which you’re driving as well as the engine load. By doing so, it helps your engine operate within an RPM range that is optimal for your driving conditions.

As with your engine, problems with your transmission can be expensive to repair (though it is not always the case if problems are identified early enough). In this article, I’ll briefly describe the parts involved with its operation. We’ll also explore some of the signs of trouble, and your options when the assembly needs to be repaired.

Pieces Of The Puzzle

Your automatic transmission includes a litany of parts and systems. A planetary gear set (including sun, planet, and ring gears) forms an intricate network through interlocking teeth. Clutches and bands help to manage the planetary gear set. Meanwhile, a hydraulic system uses pressurized transmission fluid sent from an oil pump to control the clutches and bands.

A number of seals and gaskets throughout the assembly prevent oil from leaking. A torque converter disconnects the tranny from your engine and allows your engine to continue running while your vehicle remains at a dead stop. Meanwhile, a governor and throttle cable play key roles in determining shift points by monitoring your speed and throttle position.

Avoiding Expensive Problems

The most common signs of trouble are leaks, dirty transmission fluid, and abnormal noises coming from under your car’s floorboard. In the same way your engine needs oil for lubrication, your transmission needs fluid. If you notice a leak, you should have it fixed. If you only see a few drops on the ground, periodically replenishing the level may be enough to postpone going to a mechanic. However, leaks never resolve themselves. They grow worse with time.

You should also get into the habit of checking the quality of the fluid. It should have a light reddish tint. If it is muddy or dirty, you should have it changed.

If your automatic tranny has developed a problem, you will notice odd behavior. For example, you might hear a whine coming from the floorboard or feel vibrations. You might also feel a hard, lurching shift as your transmission experiences difficulty finding the gears. Take your car to a mechanic or specialist immediately. If these types of problems are not resolved, they can lead to expensive damage.

Having The Assembly Repaired

Most leaks can be resealed relatively easily without removing the assembly from your vehicle. However, leaks from the front seal will require removal before they can be addressed.

Some problems are related to components that can be accessed without removing the transmission (for example, the electrical parts). However, this varies by the assembly.

If your tranny has sustained extreme wear and tear and is on the verge of failure, you’ll have the choice of replacing it or having the entire assembly overhauled. Both options are expensive, an issue we’ll explore in the near future. For now, it is enough to say that any problems with your transmission should be addressed quickly to avoid costly headaches later.

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Bolster The Performance Of Your Vehicle’s Power Steering

It’s easy to take power steering (PS) for granted. We have become accustomed to being able to control our vehicles with our index finger, forgetting the thousands of pounds of metal that we’re navigating through our steering wheel. If you’d like a reminder regarding how difficult it would be to steer without power, let your vehicle coast down your driveway with the engine off. You’ll likely struggle to turn the wheel.

Below, we’ll briefly explore the two types of power steering systems: rack and pinion and recirculating ball. We’ll use that introduction as the framework on which to get more performance from your PS system.

Two Types Of PS Systems

All types of PS work with hydraulics. Your car’s engine drives a belt which powers a hydraulic pump. The pump places hydraulic pressure on a small bit of fluid, which ultimately allows you to steer without effort.

Rack and pinion systems are the most common type of steering found in today’s cars. It uses a gearset that is attached to the steering shaft. A pinion gear is attached to the shaft and moves a rack as you turn the wheel. A tie rod sits on the end of the rack and connects to a steering arm, which controls the movement of the tires.

A recirculating ball system is commonly found in large pickups and SUVs. It uses ball bearings within threads that are located between the steering shaft and rack. As the rack moves up and down, the hydraulic pressure allows you to turn right and left, respectively.

Tips For Getting More Performance

Power steering systems feel differently on various types of cars. For example, giant domestic vehicles have a softer feel to the wheel. It’s almost “spongy.” Meanwhile, some of the German vehicles (e.g. BMWs) are more responsive to your commands.

There are plenty of steps you can take in order to get the most from your PS system. First, make sure your treads are healthy by periodically rotating your tires. You should also check the tire pressure every two or three weeks.

Second, if you make a turn and realize that you’re going too fast, avoid applying your brakes. Using your brakes can cause you to lose control of your vehicle. Instead, simply take your foot off the gas pedal and allow the friction of your tires and the momentum of your car to reduce your speed.

Third, remember that your PS system relies on your engine to drive the belt which powers the hydraulic pump. Be prepared to exert force in the event that your engine stalls while you’re driving.

Your vehicle’s power steering system is unlikely to fail; they’re built to last for many years. That said, if you notice a sluggish response in the wheel, wandering back and forth, or a high-pitched squeal when turning the wheel, take your car to a mechanic. Your PS system may need repairs.

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Diagnosing Different Types Of Engine Problems

Engine problems are always disconcerting. It’s all but impossible to tell at first glance what the issue is and how much it will cost to fix. If your water pump fails, you’ll have a good idea regarding the cost of a replacement. Same with a timing belt, alternator, and battery. Your engine is a completely different matter. Problems can cost very little (for example, a single failing spark plug might cause a misfire) or a lot (as is the case with a complete overhaul).

Even though there are hundreds of factors that can cause the assembly to perform poorly, the major issues can be categorized into three groups. In this article, I’ll explain how the air-fuel mixture, poor compression, and a lack of sufficient spark can impact the performance of your engine.

The Air-Fuel Mixture

The 4-stroke combustion process requires a certain air-fuel mixture in order to perform well. While your engine is constantly sucking in air, your car’s computer is instructing your fuel injectors to deliver a specific amount of gas. The air and gas are sent to the combustion chamber where the mixture is compressed and ignited.

There are a number of things that can go wrong. For example, you may run out of gas which starves the combustion chamber of fuel. Or, the air intake valve may fail, preventing air from entering the chamber. The injectors may be clogged, which prevents enough fuel from being delivered. Or, the gas may be contaminated. Each of these circumstances can influence your engine’s ability to operate.

Compression Problems

The air-fuel mixture enters the combustion chamber through the intake valve. Then, the valve closes, thereby sealing the chamber. A piston begins to rise, compressing the mix. Once the piston has risen most of the way, a spark plug ignites the compressed mix, and exhaust is allowed to escape through the exhaust valve.

A few things can impact the level of compression within the chamber. The intake and exhaust valves may fail to close. If that happens, the chamber won’t be completely sealed and the air-fuel mix cannot be compressed properly. The piston rings can be severely worn which can potentially allow the blend to leak from the chamber. A hole somewhere in the cylinder can also reduce the compression.

Igniting The Mix

As noted, a spark plug is necessary to generate the spark which ignites the compressed air-fuel mixture within the combustion chamber. If the spark plug fails, the mix cannot be ignited. If ignition is not achieved, vapor cannot be generated to push the piston downward and rotate the crankshaft. The turning of the crankshaft is necessary to produce propulsion for your vehicle.

Many other circumstances can affect whether your engine is able to perform efficiently. For example, a dead battery, worn bearings, and a lack of oil can leave you stranded just as effectively as the three problems described above. That said, issues related to the air-fuel mix, compression, and spark are usually the culprit.

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