The job of a transmission, in general, is to harness the energy made by the engine and channel it to power the wheels. An automatic transmission is a metal box with a series of gears, each with a specific ratio to make sure the wheels don’t spin at the same speed as the engine.
Digital Trends explained further, “Torque from the engine enters the transmission through the input shaft, goes through the gears, and comes out through the output shaft. How it reaches the wheels from there depends on whether the car is front-, mid-, or rear-engined, and whether it’s front- or rear- or all-wheel drive.” With a four-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive vehicle, there is the added complication of a transfer case, which is required to distribute power to the front and rear axles while also synchronizing the difference in rotation between axles when the vehicle is not going in a straight line.
Manual Transmissions
The differences between types of transmissions are pretty straightforward. A manual or stick-shift transmission uses a stick or metal rod to change gears and is connected to the transmission with a linkage.
With a manual transmission, gears are changed when a clutch disc between the engine and transmission is released using a pedal to the left of the brake. Push the pedal to release the clutch, move the stick to the proper gear, and release the clutch pedal.
Automatic Transmissions
“Instead of a clutch, an automatic transmission uses a torque converter to connect the engine to the transmission,” says Carfax. “An automatic transmission relies on a planetary gear set to shift the vehicle’s gears. This set features a central sun gear, accompanied by planet gears that rotate around it.”
“When gears are shifted in an automatic transmission, small clutches, and brakes determine which individual gears in a specific gear set are allowed to move. Also, adjustments are made regarding which of the multiple planetary gear sets are connected and receiving power.”
So, What’s Different About Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVT)?
A CVT is something like a bike system, according to AutoGuide.com. “It’s made up of a pulley system, with cones at each pulley, all connected by a chain belt. These cones move closer together or further apart to increase or decrease the diameter at which the belt operates. The ratio here is important and is selected automatically based on factors like gas pedal position, vehicle speed, and engine speed. What all this means is that a CVT doesn’t shift at all like a traditional gearbox. The ratios are always changing to find the perfect combination of speed, fuel efficiency or both.”
A major challenge with CVT transmissions from a repair standpoint is the difficulty in finding aftermarket or even OEM parts. Moreover, specialty tools have only recently become available to technicians. This prevents a rebuild in many cases, yet there are select options for a repair.
Call the Experts for CVT Repairs
CVT transmissions have increased in popularity over the years to a point where nearly every manufacturer has a vehicle in its lineup with a CVT. This is a trend we have followed from the beginning at Advanced Transmission Center.
Our Denver-area technicians study constantly through webinars, seminars, and online technical sites we subscribe to. This ensures that we are always at the forefront of cutting-edge technology and new repair trends such as the CVT.
Be sure to contact us at Advanced Transmission for a free TrueTest Inspection, where we pinpoint your vehicle’s specific issues, our technicians perform numerous hands-on tests, and we quote only the repairs you need.
Advanced Transmission Center is a Colorado-owned and operated auto repair shop with locations in Denver / Lakewood and Westminster. ATC specializes in driveline issues such as automatic transmission repair, four wheel drive repair, clutch replacement, differentials, manual transmissions and CVT. As Colorado's first AAA approved shop our goal is to provide accurate, timely service with exceptional customer satisfaction. All of our technicians are certified in the latest makes and models and we are one of the few transmission repair shops with a nationwide warranty.
Free towing is just one of the ways we strive to save you money on a major in-house repair such as a transmission rebuild. With our thorough TrueTest™ Inspection process, you will fully understand what is wrong with your car and only pay for the repairs you need.
Every transmission repair should start with a thorough and accurate diagnosis of the problem. Our multi-step TrueTest inspection procedures have been designed over decades to identify whether a minor repair can fix your issue or if a major repair is required.
We can turn around a transmission repair in as little as 2 days with our fast services! Our in-house rebuild department, expert technicians and strong vendor relationships help us get vehicles fixed ASAP. It also helps to have two local repair shops with identical operating procedures and quality standards.
After a major repair, you can take a breath and know Advanced Transmission Center has your back! We offer various warranty options (1-year, 2-year, 3-year, local or nationwide) and make sure any warranty claim is hassle-free for our customers.
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