A huge part of what the hydraulic system in your transmission does is tell the mechanical components what to do and when to do it. Even if you don't understand how that works, our technicians at Cecil's Automotive in Collierville, TN and Olive Branch, MS have trained with the best to make sure they understand all the ins and outs of your system. We want you to understand what we're talking about when we talk to you about your vehicle so we'll break down some aspects of your hydraulic system.
Clutches - Your transmission is packed with clutches that engage or disengage when necessary, thereby engaging or disengaging certain gears. Essentially your clutches either allow something to move or prevent it from moving, which achieves different gear ratios. If your clutch goes bad, you may have trouble shifting or moving the car at all. There might be noises from your clutch pedal or when the car is in neutral, and even your pedal might give you a clue. It might be stiff and hard to push, fall to the floor and stick or feel loose. It could even vibrate, chatter or pulsate.
Planetary Gears - Planetary gears are an ingenious system of gears that include the ring gear, the planet gears, and the sun gear. The planets revolve around the sun, and the ring surrounds the planets. It’s a little hard to imagine, but different gear ratios are achieved by unlocking or locking certain gears in the planetary setup, which changes the speed of the output shaft. If it goes bad, you'll hear whining noises and grinding. It can cause your entire system to fail and cause widespread damage. It needs to be fixed immediately.
Bands - Bands perform sort of the same function that the clutches do, but for with different abilities. The bands either clamp down on or release the drum that the other components are inside of, furthering the number of gear ratios your transmission can achieve. They are essentially a ring lined with friction material that surrounds the drum. Metal bands link the gears together, so when one is worn or broken, the gear won't engage properly, and it will slip. It needs to be replaced or adjusted. Your transmission is a complex and well-engineered component. The more familiar you are with how it works, the better you’ll understand your transmission and how to take care of it.
If you notice any of these problems, please take the time to come see us. At Cecil's Automotive in Collierville, TN and Olive Branch, MS, our goal is to keep your transmission going strong.
