Transmission Repair and Maintenance Services

Transmission fluid acts as a lubricant for all the moving parts in your transmission. Automatic transmission fluid also acts as a coolant and helps transmit power from the engine to the transmission.

If your vehicle has a manual transmission or stick shift, your manufacturer recommends changing the fluid every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. The service interval for an automatic transmission is every 30,000-80,000 miles, although it’s not a bad idea to have it checked more frequently. For your specific vehicle, always consult your owner's manual for additional service information.

That’s because if there’s a leak and your transmission fluid levels drop, you may not know about it until it’s too late. Chances are you won’t hear any noise or get any other identifiable clues.

We recommend following your vehicle manufacturer's maintenance schedule for complete and proper care of your vehicle. However, it’s important to check your fluid levels every time you have your oil changed. Low fluid levels can seriously damage your transmission. Your Kwik Kar Lube & Tune technician will be happy to do this for you.

Regularly scheduled maintenance service can help you avoid costly repairs—especially when it comes to transmission repair. Stop by and visit your Kwik Kar Lube & Tune today and receive a free visual inspection of your system.

Drive Trains

Providing the Muscle for Your Car

The transmission, differentials, and axles comprise the systems that turn the power that your engine generates into the force that turns your wheels. It is this system that puts the power on the pavement.

In other words, the harder you push the gas, the more power your engine generates, the more of that power is transferred to the wheels, and the faster you go.

The drive train contains two sets of gears: the transmission and the differential. The transmission adjusts the gear ratio, and the differential steps the power down again and turns the drive wheels at different speeds.

Between the engine and driving wheels of a vehicle is the transmission, the speed and the power-changing device. Power comes from the engine into the transmission. This device “transmits” the power through a driveshaft to one of two axles, either front or rear. Some drive trains use a "transaxle," which is a combination of the transmission and the differential. While usually found on front-wheel drive cars, these can also be used on mid- and rear-engine cars. For better weight balance, some cars have their engine in the front and the transaxle in the rear.

If you have a 4x4, there is an extra piece to this puzzle called a transfer case. This device takes the shifted power from the transmission and then divides (transfers) it to the appropriate axles via a drive shaft front or rear.

Transmissions To Power the Driveline

There are two types of transmissions: manual and automatic. If you have a manual transmission, you have to shift the gears yourself using a gear shifter and clutch pedal in tandem.

With an automatic transmission, the gears shift themselves. This is done using a system that’s powered by hydraulic pressure. A shift valve controls each shift of the gears and shifts depending on speed, the road, and load conditions.

Automatic Transmissions

An automatic transmission is much easier to use. Unlike a manual transmission, you don't have to use a clutch pedal or gearshift lever. The automatic transmission does the work all by itself.

Immensely complex, at its simplest automatic transmissions automatically change to higher and lower gears with changes in the car's speed and the load on the engine. These also take into account the amount of pressure placed on the gas pedal and shift accordingly to increase the engine’s RPMs as necessary to reach the required speed.

Automatic Transmission Essentials

An automatic transmission consists of the following:

  • Torque Converter
  • Brake Bands
  • Transmission Fluid

The Manual Transmission

Manual transmissions require the use of a clutch to apply and remove engine torque to the transmission input shaft. This happens gradually so that the car can be started from a complete stop.

The manual transmission encompasses a variety of active parts:

  • Transmission Gears
  • Transmission Oil
  • Gear Shift Mechanism
  • The Clutch
  • The Clutch Plate
  • The Flywheel
  • The Clutch Pedal, Cables, and Levers
  • Hydraulic Clutch

How Clutches Work

The clutch on your car or truck can be compared to an on-off switch. When the clutch is disengaged (clutch pedal down), the release mechanism actuates the fork. The fork contacts the release bearing, moving it against the clutch diaphragm spring fingers. This action allows the clutch pressure plate to lift away from the flywheel, opening a very small space between the disc, flywheel, and pressure plate.

When the disc moves away from the flywheel, power flow from the engine to the transmission is interrupted. The engine crankshaft and flywheel are rotating at a higher speed than the disc and transmission input shaft that is coasting. When the clutch is engaged (clutch pedal up), the disc slips briefly to provide smooth engagement, and, once again, the clutch clamps the disc against the flywheel. This causes the input shaft to turn, transmitting engine power to the transmission.