identifying auto issue by sound and feel

When someone tells you that your vehicle has a transmission problem, you immediately assume the worst. After all, the transmission is a big part of the engine, right? Well, yes and no; there is more to a transmission than the transmission "box."  When and if you take your vehicle to a transmission shop, you should keep this information in mind. Services provided in a transmission shop are not as finite or as limited as you think. Here is what else a transmission shop will look for and fix.

Differentials 

Differentials, despite their simplistic name, are very real car parts with complicated jobs. A differential is a combination of spinning gears responsible for turning the inner and outer drive wheels, which helps create torque and speed. Without a functional differential, your transmission's other, connected components are not going to work properly. Usually, if a mechanic says you have a transmission problem, what he/she really means is that either your gearbox or your differential is shot and needs to be replaced, and not the entire transmission as you might assume.

Clutches

If you drive a manual, or "stick" transmission, your vehicle has a clutch. Clutches are notorious for failing when you need them most to work. The clutches in these vehicles are responsible for "manually" shifting the gears in the transmission's gearbox from one gear to another.

The "manual" part of this type of vehicle refers to the fact that you are stepping on the clutch to release the gear mechanisms so that you can switch from your current gear to another gear. In short, the vehicle does not switch gears automatically, as it does in an automatic transmission. You, the driver, are actively engaged in manually aiding the vehicle to switch gears; hence, manual transmission. When your clutch goes, you cannot switch gears at all, and you are likely to end up in a crash because of it if you are still driving on a road somewhere. If your vehicle's clutch goes, and your vehicle survives the accident, then you can have a transmission shop replace the clutch.

Wheel and Tire Service 

Many parts of a transmission and drive train are connected to your wheels and tires. Even after you have had various components of the transmission and drivetrain repaired, you still need decent wheels and tires. For that reason, a lot of transmission shops provide wheel and tire service.

For more information, contact your local transmission shop.