Basically your vehicle has to roll down the road towards your ultimate destination. Yet some mechanical device has to convert the power that your auto engine or motor produces and convert it into motion - either forward or reverse direction.
This is the job and function of your transmission - a most unsung and taken for granted workhorse of any car, truck or sports utility vehicle.
If you know and understand the basics of automotive transmission products - their types, components and how they work, then you are in a much more favorable situation when it comes time for breakdowns or potentially very hefty repair bills.
To begin with transmissions that you will encounter in most of the vehicles currently on the road and that you may purchase or drive, fall into two types or classifications. These are automatic transmissions (the more popular run of the mill variety) and manual or standard transmissions.
Manual transmissions can be distinguished by the automotive novice or neophyte in that they have a clutch whereas automatic transmissions do not. Manual (often referred to as standard transmissions) have three pedals in the drivers' foot area - accelerator, clutch (in the middle) and brake pedal (on the right). Automatics on the other hand do away with the clutch and you will spot only two pedals. The accelerator (gas) pedal on the left and the brake on the right. Due to the space available and logistics the brake pedal on automatics is much bigger and larger than the ordinary sized pedal for braking with manual versions.
What is the general and overall function of a clutch in a standard setup?
Clutches are used to uncouple the transmission from the engine so that the gears can be shifted, whereas in the automatic version hydraulic pressures are used to control the shifts. Instead of flowing through the clutch to the gears, the power in an automatic-transmission engine flows from the crankshaft to the torque converter.
What is a torque converter? What is its' role and function? How can you describe it in the event of a mechanical breakdown or need for repair? How does it fit in the scheme of things so that you do not get bulldozed or bamboozled by a mechanic or technical service adviser at times of repair or maintenance? After all if you are forearmed with knowledge you will be a position advantageous to yourself both for discussion, need for repair and the presentation of your final bill and invoice.
Simply put and explained the torque converter is filled with oil and acts as either a fluid coupling or alternatively described "fluid clutch". This device allows gear shifting while power is flowing though the transmission. The way in which shifts are made (through what are called or referred to as planetary gear sets) also allows shift in a vehicle being driven with an automatic transmission to be generally very very smooth.
On the other hand a professional driver utilizing a manual transmission type can be said to have a greater range of specific control and in exceptionally experienced hands can be said to provide and produce an even silkier smooth ride than that given in most cases by an automatic.
Thus forearmed with a basic understanding of the two transmission types and how they work and function, as a driver or vehicle owner you are in a much better situation to be able to intelligently discuss issues of your transmission with your mechanic or dealership service adviser and as well be in a better situation to discuss and evaluate service or repair proposals and even demands.
