Description: An aluminum or iron housing containing an arrangement of bearings, synchronizers, shift forks, gears and shafts. The input shaft receives engine torque from the clutch disc and the output shaft delivers power to the driving wheels. On front wheel drive cars, the transmission and differential are combined into a single housing called a transaxle.
Purpose: A manual transmission changes the engine’s speed and torque in relation to the speed and torque of the drive wheels. This keeps the engine’s output matched as close as possible to varying road speeds and loads.
Maintenance Tips/Suggestions: Check your car’s owner’s manual to find out when your car’s transmission might require a lubricant change. The level of lubricant should also be checked at every oil change. Make sure that any lubricant used for changes or for “top-off” meets the requirements of the car manufacturer. This information is also in your owner’s manual. Symptoms of faults inside the transmission may include difficulty when shifting gears, grinding when shifting gears, a growling or whining noise with the transmission in a certain gear range, and popping out of gear. Pinpointing problems in the transmission is best left to a professional technician.
