Transmission & Drivetrain

Maintenance & Repair Services

Without the transmission and drivetrain, your vehicle would never make it out of the garage. Our auto maintenance and repair team helps keep you in the fast lane with maintenance and repair services for all transmission and drivetrain components. 

  • Transmission Repair & Service

  • Transmission Replacement

  • Driveline Repair & Maintenance

  • Axle Repair & Replacement

  • Clutch Repair & Replacement

  • Transmission Fluid Service

  • Flywheel Repair & Replacement

  • Driveshaft & U-Joint Repair

  • Transmission Flush

  • Differential Diagnosis

  • Differential Rebuild & Service

How Do Transmissions Work?

The transmission is a device that is connected to the back of the engine and sends the power from the engine to the drive wheels. An automobile engine runs at its best at a certain revolutions-per-minute (RPM) range and it is the transmission’s job to make sure that the power is delivered to the wheels while keeping the engine within that range. It does this through various gear combinations.

In first gear, the engine turns much faster in relation to the drive wheels, while in high gear the engine is loafing even though the car may be going in excess of 70 MPH. In addition to the various forward gears, a transmission also has a neutral position which disconnects the engine from the drive wheels, and reverse, which causes the drive wheels to turn in the opposite direction and allows you to back up.

Finally, there is the park position. In this position, a latch mechanism (not unlike a deadbolt lock on a door) is inserted into a slot in the output shaft to lock the drive wheels and keep them from turning, thereby preventing the vehicle from rolling.

There are two basic types of automatic transmissions based on whether the vehicle is rear-wheel drive or front-wheel drive.

On a rear-wheel drive car, the transmission is usually mounted to the back of the engine and is located under the hump in the center of the floorboard alongside the gas pedal position. A drive shaft connects the rear of the transmission to the final drive which is located in the rear axle and is used to send power to the rear wheels. Power flow on this system is simple and straightforward going from the engine, through the torque converter, then through the transmission and drive shaft until it reaches the final drive where it is split and sent to the two rear wheels.

On a front-wheel drive car, the transmission is usually combined with the final drive to form what is called a transaxle. The engine on a front-wheel drive car is usually mounted sideways in the car with the transaxle tucked under it on the side of the engine facing the rear of the car. Front axles are connected directly to the transaxle and provide power to the front wheels.

In this example, power flows from the engine, through the torque converter to a large chain that sends the power through a 180-degree turn to the transmission that is alongside the engine. From there, the power is routed through the transmission to the final drive where it is split and sent to the two front wheels through the drive axles.

Our auto repair shops in Kennewick and Richland are equipped to help diagnose and repair all kinds of transmission and drivetrain problems.