Three Types of Transmissions in Cars

by | Apr 18, 2013 | Automobile

When a vehicle owner in Garland is struck with the need to repair or replace a transmission in their vehicle, one thing that a vehicle owner should know and understand is the different types of engine transmissions. This will also allow the vehicle owner to have a better understanding of the potential costs involved with repairing or replacing that vehicle transmission. For the most part, there are three major types of transmissions.

Automatic

The first type of transmission in Garland, which is the most common type today, is the automatic transmission. Now while this is the most common type of vehicle transmission, it is also one of the most expensive types of transmissions. An automatic transmission works as the name implies. It automatically selects the proper gears to shift into based on the vehicle’s current speed and engine RPM (Revolutions Per Minute).

More advanced automatic RPMs are actually able to do even more than just shift gears at the appropriate time. They can do things like be able to detect special conditions like when a vehicle is pulling a trailer. They can then go through the gears at a different rate in order to maximize the amount of power needed to pull the heavy object. Other things that an automatic transmission can do is detect declines and inclines, like when climbing a mountain. Again the gear ratios can be adjusted automatically to provide maximum power for steep climbs, etc.

Manual

The manual transmission is another type of vehicle transmission. When cars were originally built this was actually the only option available. A driver has to actually shift the gears when needed for a manual drive transmission vehicle. A manual transmission vehicle is equipped with a clutch and shifter. They require constant work from the driver to go through the gears. For the most part, these types of transmissions are more fuel efficient, though the gap is certainly closing when comparing it to automatic transmissions.

CVT

The third type of transmission that is commonly used in a vehicle is called the Continuously Variable Transmission or CVT. This is a newer concept in vehicles where a vehicle goes through gears continuously instead of changing from gears 1 through 5. This provides better fuel economy in the vehicle because the higher RPMs of the engine are minimized when shifting through the continuous gears. It also does not have to have a clutch which makes it more efficient.

These are the three types of transmissions that are used in vehicles today. Knowing what type of transmission is in the vehicle will give the owner a better indication of what to expect as far as costs. Being informed is one of the most important aspects when it comes to repairs.

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