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Monthly Archives: July 2020

  1. The Symptoms of a Bad Transmission Solenoid

    A vehicle’s automatic transmission is composed of several critical components, one of which is the transmission solenoid. Solenoids are electro-hydraulic valves that control the flow of transmission fluid into and throughout a vehicle’s automatic transmission system. Based on the voltage or currents that they receive from the transmission control unit, the solenoids either open or close to allow or block the flow of transmission fluid. When these transmission solenoids malfunction or fail, a vehicle may begin to perform erratically. Here are some of the symptoms of a bad transmission solenoid.

    Delayed shifting

    Often, solenoid issues will reveal themselves in the form of delayed gear shifting. If there is a problem with a transmission solenoid, the proper amount of hydraulic fluid for shifting may not be supplied. As a result, a lack of pressure will likely occur, which may delay your vehicle’s ability to shift gears. If you notice that your vehicle is taking longer than usual to shift gears, it’s a good idea to get its transmission solenoids checked out.

    Inability to shift gears

    Solenoids play a large role in gear selection. In addition to delayed shifting, a faulty transmission solenoid may prevent your vehicle from shifting gears entirely.

    When a solenoid malfunctions, the proper amount of fluid pressure may not be sent to the desired gear, thus preventing the appropriate gears from being activated. As a result, you may lose the ability to use one gear, multiple gears, or all gears, leaving your vehicle stuck in one particular gear.

    The vehicle is stuck in limp mode

    Another symptom of a bad transmission solenoid is when the vehicle gets stuck in limp mode. Also known as limp-home mode, limp mode is activated when a system failure—such as a transmission solenoid malfunction—is detected by the transmission control module.

    When in limp mode, the transmission will likely be forced into second or third ge

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  2. Understanding How Manual Transmissions Work

    If you’ve ever ridden in a vehicle with a manual transmission or watched an action movie, you’ve likely seen how manual vehicles are operated: the driver moves the gearshift and presses or releases the clutch pedal to change speeds. But what exactly happens when the driver shifts gears on a manual car? Whether you’re interested in purchasing a manual car or simply want to gain a better understanding of how manual transmissions work, this quick and simple guide can help.

    Shifting into first gear

    The first step to operating a manual vehicle is to depress the clutch pedal, which disconnects the power flow between the engine’s input shaft and transmission. This should be done while the car is stopped and before you even turn the key in the ignition so that the engine can run without sending power to the rest of the vehicle.

    After the clutch pedal is pressed, move the gearshift into the first gear position. Doing so will force the shifting fork mounted to the output shaft to move toward first gear, which is mounted to the output shaft. Attached to the shifting fork is a synchronizer collar that securely mounts the driving gear to the output shaft and syncs up their speeds. The synchronizer collar enmeshes with the first gear.

    To get the vehicle to move, the clutch pedal should then be released gently while the throttle is lightly applied. As the clutch pedal is increasingly released, more pressure should be placed on the throttle until it is fully released. Upon doing so, the engine and transmission are linked, the vehicle is moving, and the vehicle is securely in gear.

    Changing gears

    To understand how manual transmissions work, you must be familiar with how the gears shift. To change gears and get the vehicle to go faster, the process outlined above essentially repeats itself. Remove pressure from the throttle while depressing the clutch pedal to disconnect power between the transmission and the engine. Then mo

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  3. The Planetary Gearset in Automatic Transmissions

    While automatic transmissions are relatively small, they consist of a wide assortment of different parts. One of the most important features of an automatic transmission system is the planetary gearset. Also known as the epicycloidal gearset, the planetary gearset serves as the focal point of any automatic transmission system. Essentially, all other components in the system are created to facilitate the operation of the planetary gearset. Use this guide to better understand the role of the planetary gearset in automatic transmissions.

    What is a planetary gearset?

    A planetary gearset is a component of an automatic transmission system that consists of two gears that are combined into a single component. The gears are mounted in a way that allows the center of one of the gears to revolve around the center of the other.

    Generally, the center of the two gears are connected by a moveable arm or carrier that rotates and carries the planet gear around the sun gear or sun wheel. Because the gears revolve around the sun wheel similar to the way planets revolve around the sun, the gear aptly received its name: the “planetary gearset.”

    The role of a planetary gearset in an automatic transmission

    A planetary gearset creates all the gear ratios that a transmission can produce. It gives vehicles with automatic transmission systems the ability to change gears smoothly as a vehicle reaches different speeds without having to move the gear shift like in a manual system. In other words, it facilitates the chief function of an automatic transmission system by allowing the system to change gear ratios without the need to engage or disengage individual gears.

    Components of a planetary gearset

    Planetary gearsets consist of three primary components:

    • The sun gear
    • The planet gear
    • The ring gear

    The gear ratio for the gearset is

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  4. Common Reasons for Transmission Problems

    Your vehicle’s transmission plays a crucial role in its operation. Without a properly functioning transmission, your vehicle won’t be able to shift gears smoothly, so your wheels won’t get the power they need to achieve the speed you want—pretty important stuff. Common symptoms of transmission issues include a delayed vehicle response after shifting gears, shaking within the car, grinding or slipping when the car shifts gears, and burnt smells coming from under your vehicle’s hood. If your vehicle is experiencing transmission problems, it’s important to get to the root of the issue. While there are dozens of potential causes, these are some of the most common reasons for transmission problems.

    Low transmission fluid

    One of the most common causes of transmission problems is low transmission fluid, which may be the result of leakage, lack of maintenance, or age. Common symptoms of transmission issues caused by low transmission fluid include grinding gears, a delayed response when shifting gears, the transmission overheating, and the premature wearing down of the vehicle’s transmission.

    If your vehicle is exhibiting any of these symptoms, it is important to check your transmission fluid immediately. While low transmission fluid is typically an easy problem to fix if you catch it early, it can become a more serious issue if left untreated. In severe cases, when vehicles continue to drive with low transmission fluid for an extended period of time, the transmission can become dangerously overheated. As a result, internal transmission parts may sustain damage and cause total vehicle failure.

    Poor quality or contaminated transmission fluid

    In addition to low transmission fluid, contaminated transmission fluid is another common cause of transmission problems. Even if there is plenty of fluid in your vehicle, it won’t be able to do its job properly if it isn’t in good condition.

    If the transmission fluid has started to de

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  5. How to Know What Type of Transmission You Have

    When your vehicle starts experiencing transmission issues, it is important to determine what type of transmission your vehicle has. Doing so will allow you to find the appropriate replacement parts. And no, it’s not enough to know if your vehicle has an automatic or manual transmission—if only it were that simple. In reality, there are hundreds of different types of transmissions that will vary depending on your vehicle’s manufacturer, year, make and model, and even the size of your engine. To learn how to know what type of transmission you have, continue reading.

    Flip through your owner’s manual

    Let’s start with the obvious. One of the easiest ways to determine what type of transmission your vehicle has is by checking the good ole’ owner’s manual. Often, you can simply pull your owner’s manual out, flip to the section on transmission, and it will tell you everything you need to know—including information on the type of transmission fluid to use and how often it should be changed.

    If you bought your vehicle used, however, it may not have come with an owner’s manual. In such cases, you can use the additional solutions listed below to determine what type of transmission your vehicle has.

    Take a peek under the hood

    Another way to determine what type of transmission your vehicle has is to take a look under its hood. Most vehicles include a sticker under their hood that lists the different components and types of parts that are installed in the car—including the transmission. A quick look at this sticker should provide you with the information you need.

    Look for the label on the driver’s side door

    If you look on the inside edge of the driver’s side door on most vehicles, you’ll find a white label. Written on this label is a variety of basic information about the car such as its transmission type.

    To find the transmission information, look for a “TR

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