BYE BYE STICKS
As automatic transmissions have progressed and consumer involvement has diminished manual (stick) transmissions are going the way of the Dodo bird.They are now mostly used in sports and racing cars and some larger trucks. Automatic transmissions are now standard equipment on most cars.
RISE OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
The rise of the automatic has been relatively slow but absolute. Cadillac introduced the first automatics in the late 1940’s. Like most new technology the automatics trickled down from the luxury cars to the more affordable models. Today automatics are used in the vast majority of cars and light trucks.
HOW THEY WORK
The automatic shifts itself from gear to gear. The driver simply selects the direction ( forward or reverse). The first automatics were hydraulically shifted. The pressure developed in the transmission opened and closed valves and activated pistons to change the gears. Modern automatics are electronically controlled but still retain some hydraulic operation.
A torque converter couples the transmission to the engine. The torque converter takes the place of the clutch in the manuals. The torque converter has two or more fan like vanes that turn in a sealed shell that is filled with hydraulic fluid. When you stop at a light the low engine speed does not generate enough fluid flow to move the car. This simulates pushing in the clutch pedal in a manual transmission car.
BENEFITS
Modern automatic transmissions have been refined over the years to the point that they are both reliable and economical. Drivers can now have the ease of operation of the automatic and still get good gas mileage and performance.
THE DRAWBACKS
Since there is no physical connection between the engine and the transmission there is a power loss. Auto makers developed “lock up” torque converters in the late 90’s. They did reduce the power loss but the :lockup” only happens in the top gear.
The other problem with early ( 1946 to mid 1990’s) was that they shifted slow. This was due to the hydraulic operation of the shift valves. Computers now control the functions of gear changes.They can shift faster than even professional drivers can shift a manual gearbox. These newer transmissions now also get better gas mileage than the same car with a manual. Today automatic transmissions are the norm in US cars and light trucks.
The newer automatics are very complex and have a LOT of parts. They are relatively expensive to replace or repair with a basc rebuild starting about $1800 and ranging up to several thousand dollars.
CONCLUSION
Today most cars and light trucks come equipped with automatic transmissions. For most makes and models you simply don’t have a choice. There are two other “automatic” transmissions that I will cover in other pages.
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