Diagnosing transmission problems could be a handful of work back in the day. However, thanks to the improvement of technology, it is no longer time-consuming and costly. Most auto repair technology has advanced rapidly over the last decade. 

Now, your automobile has incredibly state-of-the-art onboard computer systems and high-tech diagnostic tools mechanics use for car trouble diagnoses. The digitization and advancement of your car go more than connecting your smartphone to your vehicle’s sound system or the other electronic features you see on your dashboard. 

However, even though technology and auto repair shops are always there, it is also a big help when car owners like you know more about diagnosing and repairing transmission issues. This blog post will teach you essential knowledge transmission parts and diagnoses.

What are the Basic Parts of an Automatic Transmission?

There are many little parts inside your transmission, but they are essentially made up of four critical components.

1. Bell Housing – It is the cone-shaped metal case that you underneath your car. On a front-wheel-drive car, it’s on the side of the engine under the hood. On a rear-wheel-drive car, the transmission is mounted underneath the car behind the engine.
2. Gears – An automatic transmission has gears that are broken into main gears and planetary gears. All of these parts are needed to be able to drive.
3. Fluid –Transmission fluid is vital to an automatic transmission. All of the magic happens in the liquid. Most cars come with red transmission fluid, which is good to know if you don’t want a leak.
4. Filter – All that fluid must be clean for your car to shift gears correctly. The transmission has a filter to catch any gunk to keep things fresh.

Now that you have the essential information on what’s happening in your transmission, you can figure out why it is acting up. With your basic knowledge, you can at least understand what your mechanic is talking about while he explains what happened and what will happen during repair.

Below are the essential questions you should ask when diagnosing your own car:

Is the fluid level correct?

It’s essential to check your transmission fluid twice a year. Having a low fluid level can cause your car to shift poorly, leading to transmission damage and a costly repair. If your vehicle seems to be losing fluid regularly, it may leak.

Is the transmission leaking?

Checking for leaks is more challenging than it may seem. The transmission is a closed system, so only a few places can spring a leak. Before anything else, check if you poured the transmission fluid correctly. Your car will have red transmission fluid unless it’s changed to a non-dyed fluid. Below are a few places where you can check for leaks:

• Filler tube base
• Drain hole underneath the transmission
• Between the transmission and the engine
• Selector shaft 
• Radiator
• Speed sensor mounting point

Is the filter clogged?

If you replaced your filter ages ago, it depends on the damage, but it may be time to consider rebuilds or replacements by professionals.

The average do-it-yourselfer can only fix some transmission problems. There are just too many specialized tools and equipment you’ll need, and buying this expensive gear to fail in your first three tries at fixing the thing just doesn’t make too much sense. Call your trusted auto repair shop.

Now that you’re in front of the skilled squad, it’s time to show your knowledge of your fix-it guy. Explain to the mechanic what the car’s doing. Then, tell him what you found out when you inspected the transmission. Let him know where and how much is leaking if there’s a leak or clogging.

Is it Time for a Rebuild?

When your transmission gets tired enough, you must rebuild it. The need for rebuilding may vary depending on the car brands and models. The important thing is to check any other possible causes of your problem before you take the transmission apart, which may be very expensive. 

If you need to replace your filter, do it! This decision fixes an excellent percentage of transmission problems. If your filter is good, and everything needs to be in order, be prepared to drop some serious dough on the rebuild. The good news is that most shops warrant a transmission rebuild for a long time. 

It is a small consolation as you hand over the payment for repair or maintenance, but now you know that it will get fixed and stay fixed. You may be unable to save big money by doing your transmission rebuild, but keeping up with your maintenance schedule will keep you out of the shop as much as possible. 

Conclusion

It saves you a lot of money or expenses when you know the basics of dealing with minor transmission problems. Knowing who to call when car problems arise, like trusted BMW or Volkswagen Auto Repair with professional mechanics, is also beneficial.