Transmissions and torque converters have a lot of components that can go bad. Problems with transmissions and torque converters may be related to how the vehicle is driven or could just be because of a faulty component. Either way, transmission problems can be frustrating and difficult to diagnose without pulling the entire transmission apart. There are different problems associated with manual and automatic transmissions.
Torque Converters
Your torque converter is the component that transfers the torque of your engine to the automatic transmission in order for it to be used to move your vehicle. A common torque converter problem is worn needle bearings. This problem typically causes noise when the car is in gear but not when it is in neutral. A clutch that jams or locks the stator, one of the components that circulates fluid, is also fairly common. This will cause a lack of power when accelerating and at higher speeds. It could also make your transmission fluid run extremely hot and cause your vehicle to overheat. Torque converter seal damage can be caused by the transmission overheating. Breakage of the interior clutch is closely related to excessive load being put on the torque converter components or the clutch itself.
Automatic Transmissions
Automatic transmissions are notorious for having more problems than their manual counterparts. Because they have hundreds of components, diagnosing an automatic transmission problem can be difficult. Low transmission fluid is a very common problem for automatic transmissions. If the fluid is low, your car will not shift into gear. A faulty pump, controller, vacuum or valve body can also cause problems for your transmission's shifting abilities. A short in a shifter solenoid or other electronic component might throw a computer code letting your car know that something is wrong. By plugging your car into a computer reader, you can get the code translated into what the problem is. This might mean the difference between replacing just a solenoid and replacing your entire transmission.
Manual Transmissions
Manual transmissions have less problems and are easier to diagnose when something does go wrong because there are fewer components in a manual transmission than in an automatic one. Release or pilot bearing problems are fairly common in manual transmissions. A noticeable noise or pitch change, squealing or chirping when the clutch is pushed in are indicators of a bearing problem. Gear synchronizers and internal bearings could be the problem if there is a noise that occurs when the car is in, or shifted to, a certain gear. Problems with the clutch in manual transmissions include it not fully releasing or not engaging. If the clutch doesn't release, it will cause a grinding noise to occur when shifting. The car won't go into gear if the clutch doesn't engage. Manual transmissions can also stick in gear, which can be caused by a broken shift cable, broken gear or bent linkage. Low lubrication levels in the gear box can also cause problems with your transmission.
