Transmission Repair and Maintenance

12th Street Auto Care Center is ASE and AAA-certified for its transmission repair specialists in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Our mechanics will gladly repair or maintain your transmission system, whether it’s automatic or manual. But our team is not just knowledgeable, they’re hard-working professionals who have tons of experience diagnosing transmission problems, providing affordable transmission system repairs and replacing transmission systems when necessary. So when your transmission system starts to give you trouble, call 12th Street Auto Care Center located in Sioux Falls, SD to schedule an auto repair appointment.

Most cars, trucks, vans and SUVs have automatic transmission systems, while older vehicles and performance cars have manual transmission systems. Automatic transmission vehicles allow you to speed up without switching gears. All you have to do is put your vehicle in Drive and press on the gas pedal to speed up. Manual transmission systems require you to press down on the clutch while shifting from first gear to second, third, and so on until you reach your desired speed.

Both manual and automatic transmission systems are made up of similar parts, since they do the same job. The main difference is in a manual vehicle, you have the gear shift to the driver’s right and a clutch pedal to the left of the brake pedal. But here’s a little more on the components that make up these systems.

Automatic transmission systems should be serviced annually. Call 12th Street Auto Care Center for this service appointment. Our technicians will change out the transmission filter, flush the transmission fluid, tell you which fluid is best for your vehicle, and will service your engine’s cooling system while they’re at it.

Your mechanic will also inspect the following components, which make up your system:

• torque converter
• planetary gear set
• transmission fluid pump
• valve body
• onboard microprocessors and sensors
• transmission fluid system

The torque converter helps transfer power. Signs of a failing torque converter include: strange sounds like clunking, whirring or humming, stalling at high speeds, slipping, overheating or dirty transmission fluids.

The planetary gear set, also known as the epicyclic gear set, produces rotational force sent through the outpost shaft that rotates your car’s wheels. Signs it is failing include: grinding sounds when shifting gears, buzzing sounds or a loud roaring sound.

The transmission fluid pump is pressurized to move throughout the system and provides lubrication to all the moving parts. Signs this is failing include: slipping while shifting gears, noticeable noises, Check Engine light appears on dashboard, difficulty shifting gears, or a burning stench.

The valve body uses the transmission fluid to open and close valves. Signs the valve body is in trouble includes: harsh or delayed gear shifts, shifting without prompting, higher RPMs when shifting up, loud sounds, slipping or the appearance of the Check Engine light.

Your transmission system is run by microprocessors and sensors that send signals according to different components. Signs of a failed system or sensors include: delay in gear shifts, stuck in neutral, gears seem to stick, can’t shift down, engine revs when braking.

The transmission fluid levels need to be maintained for a healthy transmission system. Signs there is something wrong with the fluid include: strange grinding sounds, a burning smell, difficulty shifting gears, slipping or surging forward when shifting gears, the Check Engine light appears, or you’re unable to shift out of Park.

• Axles: part of the drivetrain, either a front, back or both. In order to move a vehicle’s wheels, they need to spin. They are connected to a drive shaft.
• Output Shaft: carries the rotational power out of the transmission to the wheels.
• Transmission Oil Pan: holds the transmission fluid and is located (generally) underneath your transmission.
• Clutch Pack: a series of clutch discs and plates housed in a hub in the transmission. They are used for the multiple gears an automatic transmission would have available.
• Transmission Bands: metal bands wrapped around the gear train. They will tighten or loosen, depending on the engaging or disengaging of gears.

Manual transmission is very similar to automatic transmission systems. The main differences include the stick shift and use of a clutch to change between gears. Everything you have to manually do to move forward, backward, park, go into neutral or speed up is automatically done for you in an automatic transmission system.

Since the two are so similar, there are only a few extra components to learn about.

• clutch
• shafts
• gear selector fork
• gears

The clutch engages and disengages from the engine when shifting from one gear to the next. You step on the clutch with your left foot while your right eases off the brake or gently presses the gas pedal. Signs of a bad clutch include a vibrating, pulsating or chattering clutch pedal, a stiff pedal, growling sounds when shifting gears, noises while in neutral, a racing engine when moving slowly, or slow performance.

The shafts in your manual transmission system are the input, output and layshaft, all of which provide power and torque. If something is wrong with your shafts, you may notice the loss of power or slipping wheels.

A gear selector fork slides gears on the layshaft to help you switch gears. Signs something could be wrong with the gear selector fork include difficulty shifting between gears and a grinding feel or sound.

Your gears are Drive, Neutral, Reverse, First, Second, Third, Fourth and sometimes Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, etc. Some heavy machinery can go up to 12th gear, but most vehicle stop around Fourth or Sixth. If something is wrong with your gears, you may notice difficulty shifting, a grinding, whirring or thumping sound, or your gears may not shift at all.

If you suspect something is going on with your transmission system or any of its components, call 12th Street Auto Care Center, a trusted Sioux Falls, SD auto repair shop, for all your car, truck, van or SUV transmission repair and maintenance needs.