Why Knowing Your Transmission Is Important
Here are the main reasons you should know your type of transmission.
To Optimize Upkeep
Proper maintenance of your transmission is critical to your vehicle’s lifespan. When you know the type of transmission you have, you’ll be able to stay up to date with the necessary steps required to keep the gearbox operating efficiently.
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To Choose the Right Transmission Fuel
You must purchase a specific fuel designed for your vehicle’s transmission. Therefore, it’s only obvious to know the vehicle’s transmission to avoid getting the wrong fuel. The right transmission fuel helps prevent problems, such as overheating and insufficient lubrication.
To Reduce Service Costs
As a driver, you probably know the importance of paying attention to maintenance and any problems your vehicle may have, particularly pertaining to the transmission. Any minor issue in the transmission can easily escalate to a costly and dangerous level. The transmission requires routine maintenance to function properly, and knowing your vehicle’s transmission type helps you provide better service care, minimizing repair costs.
To Avoid Overloading Your Vehicle
Every SUV or truck has a maximum load capacity, regardless of whether it’s a Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, or Ram. Overloading can result in transmission failure. If you know your transmission type, you can check the load capacity before making any loading plans.
How To Determine Your Vehicle’s Transmission
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Here are a few ways to check the type of transmission your vehicle has.
Check the Owner’s Manual
It’s always recommended to reference your owner’s manual when searching for extra details about your car. The manual contains important information about your vehicle, including the transmission type. One detail you may be able to find is the brand of transmission fluid to use and how to change the fluid and the filter. If you own a used vehicle, it may not have the owner’s manual. However, you can always retrieve the information you need online. You can also ask your local dealership for a copy.
Look at the Placard on the Driver’s Side Door
You can determine your vehicle’s transmission type by checking the driver’s side door placard. Most cars have two stickers on the driver’s door. One sticker contains critical information regarding your engine, such as year of make, while the other contains tire guidelines, such as the optimum pressure for a certain weight. To determine your transmission type, check the first sticker containing details about the year, engine type, and origin, as it also includes information on the transmission.
Check the Oil Pan
Another reliable way to determine the transmission of the vehicle is by checking the components of the transmission. You can identify the type of transmission you have by checking the shape and design of the oil pan. If the shape of the oil pan is irregular, the vehicle has a manual transmission.
Crawl under the vehicle and look for the number of transmission parts. Depending on the vehicle type, these numbers may be on the transmission itself or the oil pan. Write down the numbers and take them to your local auto shop or dealer, and they can check the information in their systems for you.
Use Your VIN
Check at the base of the windshield on the driver’s side to find your vehicle identification number (VIN). The number consists of 17 characters, both numeric and alphabetic. You can use this number to learn details about your vehicle, including the type of transmission you’re using. You can find the vehicles’ transmission information within the VIN’s fourth and eighth digits.
Types of Transmissions
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Below are different types of transmissions in vehicles.
Manual Transmission
The manual transmission was the main transmission type available a few decades ago. That means older vehicle models use this transmission. While they offer a great driving experience, many people prefer automatic transmissions because it’s easier and more efficient.
This type of transmission requires the driver to shift gears physically. The number of gears may differ but normally falls between three and six. The lowest gear offers a lower speed but more horsepower. It’s easy to spot a manual vehicle by looking at how the interior is set up. The vehicle will have three pedals: the accelerator, brake, and clutch.
Automatic Transmission
The automatic transmission is probably the most common transmission fitted in vehicles today. This type of transmission offers drivers a simple driving experience, unlike manual transmissions, which can be challenging to learn. Vehicles with an automatic transmission don’t have a clutch pedal. Instead, they only have the accelerator and brake pedals. Generally, you have an automatic transmission if your vehicle runs and gradually shifts from low gear to high gear when you press the accelerator.
Semi-Automatic Transmission
This transmission is a fusion of both the manual and automatic transmission types that offers drivers a whole new experience. It’s similar to manual transmission because you need a gear selector to actively change gears.
Continuously Variable Transmission
This type of transmission is new and unique because it doesn’t involve using gears like the others on this list. To change speed, the vehicle uses rubber or metal belts that operate with moving pulleys to vary the diameter. To alter the speed, one pulley increases in diameter while the other decreases.
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