When you start thinking about different ways to improve your car, there might be a few things you can do in order to ensure a safe, stable ride. For starters, you should think about starting to focus on learning basic at-home auto service techniques, such as changing your own oil or replacing your auto filter.
By learning about car care, you can empower yourself with knowledge and learn more about how to manage different aspects of the trade, which can be incredibly helpful. Check out this website for awesome tips and tricks that talk about auto service that can pave the way for a brighter tomorrow.
If you have a car or truck with a manual transmission in it, you need to pay attention to the sounds and other signs that it may be giving you. A transmission that is not functioning correctly can be difficult to shift and may lock up if there is damage inside the system.
Chattering Throwout Bearing
One very common sound you may hear when your manual transmission needs attention is a chattering sound. This is most common when the clutch is released, but it can happen anytime the engine is running.
The chattering is often the result of excessive wear in the throwout bearing, and as the bearing starts to loosen up, the parts inside it begin to chatter. Often if you put your foot on the clutch lightly, the sound will go away and then return as soon as your foot is removed.
The bearing will eventually fail if it is making noise, so it is vital to get your vehicle in for transmission service and repair.
Hard Shifting
Manual transmissions that are shifting harder than they should often are indicative of a worn clutch. When you depress the clutch pedal, the clutch plate may not fully disengage, and the result is that the transmission is still moving inside when you shift.
In some cases, the gears will grind as the shifter tries to force a change in the gears, and many times that motion will stop the internal rotation enough to allow the gear change, but as the parts wear, it can get more challenging to get the transmission in gear.
If you notice the transmission getting harder to shift, it is a good idea to take the vehicle to a transmission repair shop and have it checked. Replacing a worn clutch is not cheap, but the cost of replacing or rebuilding the transmission is much higher if it is damaged as a result of trying to shift it when the clutch is not working correctly.
Leaking Transmissions
Manual transmissions use gear oil inside the case to lubricate the gears, bearings, and linkages. If you see the case leaking, you may have a crack or a seal leaking somewhere on the transmission.
The leak needs to be fixed, or the oil level can fall low enough to allow the bearings and gears to get hot as you drive. The heat will cause the failure of the bearings, and in most cases, a transmission shop will have to disassemble and rebuild the unit with new bearings, which can be extremely costly.
If you cant see where the leak is in the transmission, take the vehicle to a transmission shop so they can inspect it for you.
For more information, contact a transmission shop today.