Clutch and Automatic Transmission

No matter what kind of transmission you have, both manual and automatic vehicles require regular servicing to ensure maximum performance, economy, and service life. Servicing a manual transmission usually includes less complicated tasks, such as replacing fluids or making minor adjustments.

How the Clutch and Manual Transmission Work

In a car, the engine is spinning all the time but the wheels are not always connected to it. The clutch is the mechanism that allows a spinning engine to engage smoothly with a non-spinning transmission by controlling the slippage between the clutch plate and the flywheel.

Automatic Transmission Basics

Automatic and manual transmissions differ in two big ways:

• A car with an automatic transmission has no clutch pedal.
• Once the transmission is placed in drive, gear changes happen automatically.

A manual transmission locks and unlocks different sets of gears to achieve different ratios. An automatic transmission uses a different internal arrangement to produce those same ratios without the driver shifting manually.

Key Components

Clutch

A clutch consists of a cover, clutch plate, flywheel, pressure plate, diaphragm spring, and throw-out bearing.

Automatic Transmission

An automatic transmission contains a complex group of components in a compact space, including planetary gear sets, locking bands, clutches, a hydraulic system, and a pump to move transmission fluid.

Warning Signs

Clutch

• Clutch slips and does not transfer engine power properly
• Clutch does not release correctly
• Repeated clutch slipping from driving style causes accelerated wear

Automatic Transmission

• Fluid leaks
• Check engine light is on
• Harsh or jarring shifts into the next gear
• Vehicle hesitates or refuses to go into gear
• Whining, humming, or buzzing noises