It’s a simple question, but one that’s necessary for all drivers: what is a transmission? Learn more about this essential component of your vehicle and how it works with your engine to make sure your car is running at its best.
, but from there the details can get a little muddy for many of us. Fear not—it’s time to learn more about what a transmission is, what it does, and why it’s the lifeblood of any vehicle.
explains that a transmission runs underneath the body of your vehicle, but the gear shifter—the part of the transmission that allows you to move between gears as necessary—is typically located between the driver’s seat and passenger seat.
Underneath your vehicle, the transmission is connected to your vehicle’s engine, controlling the rate at which your engine cycles, or turns, ensuring that your car’s engine doesn’t turn over too quickly or too slowly. These cycles are measured in RPMs, or rates per minute.
MORE: How do you know if your car needs transmission fluid?
In an automatic transmission (as most modern cars have), the transmission is programmed to shift gears based on the engine’s RPMs, ensuring that the gears shift smoothly. This smooth shifting keeps the car rolling without any noticeable bumps or jostling.
and to harness the car’s momentum. For example, when your car is moving slowly, your automatic transmission will be utilizing a lower gear, which, until you start accelerating and it’s time to shift, will keep the engine idling at a reasonable level.
What’s the difference between an automatic and manual transmission?
Automatic and manual transmissions vary in this simple regard: automatics rely on pre-timed shifting according to the engine’s RPMs, while manual transmissions rely on the driver to know when to shift up or down.
have gears that are shifted by the driver, which takes a certain amount of skill. Manual transmissions use something known as a clutch, which is a third pedal that disengages whatever gear the vehicle is in and allows the driver to shift between gears as they choose. Without knowing when to shift gears and use the clutch pedal, the clutch can be “burnt up”, which quite literally means it wears out the clutch, which can age the transmission rapidly.
Typically, drivers with a manual transmission shift at somewhere between 2500-3000 RPMs. In racing, or when ascending or descending hills, this may vary considerably. Drivers may want their vehicle to be at a higher RPM in order to get up a hill more quickly or to descend down it at a lower speed.
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Now that we’ve helped you understand how transmissions work, you might have a question about your coverage options.
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