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Manual transmissions may seem complex, but the concept is much simpler to understand if you think of it as you would a ten-speed bike. Your car's transmission has gears, much like the bike, and the transmission uses different gears at different times to make the car go faster or slower. Below, you will find out more about the various gears in a manual transmission. Shifting Gears A car's manual transmission has a clutch which connects it to the engine. The clutch is attached to an input shaft, which turns as fast as the engine. The gearshift lever inside the car controls a set of rods, each ending in a forked fashion. Putting the car into first gear pulls back the rod/fork for that gear, allowing it to turn. The process is repeated to shift into higher gears. Going in Reverse The reverse gear is an exception to the rule, because it only has a small idler gear. Reverse gears always turn in an opposite direction to the rest of the transmission's gears; if you try to shift into reverse while in motion, you won't be able because the gear teeth will not mesh. All you will do is make a horrible grinding noise--and possibly necessitate expensive repairs. Shifting into Neutral When your car is in neutral, all of the transmission's gears are disengaged and the car can freely roll. With some classic and antique cars, you may need to shift the clutch into neutral before going into a high gear--what's known as the "double clutch". Double clutching is not necessary on modern vehicles, because their transmissions are equipped with synchronizers. The synchronizer keeps the gear's teeth and collar in contact, allowing the gear to come up to full speed so the driver can shift without grinding the gears. If your vehicle's transmission grinds with each gear change, or if it won't shift into gear at all, the synchronizer may be faulty, but you can still double clutch to drive the vehicle. Take your car to a Transmission Shop in Plymouth, MN to get it evaluated, and compare prices from several local shops. Depending on your car's make, model and year, and on your location, you may find it less expensive to rebuild the transmission. However, replacement or rebuild cost depends on the extent of the damage and the ability of Aamco Transmission to find parts for your vehicle.
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