Group 15 - GM Transmission

Component List

Part	Amount	Material	Manufacturing Processes	Function	Picture
13mm Bolts	32	steel	machining	hold component in place
Cover Plate	1	cover plate	casting	insulation of inside components
Metal Clamp	1	aluminum	machining	apply force to component to hold it in place
10mm Bolts	16	steel	machining	hold component in place
Small Plate	1	steel	casting	hold hydraulic block in place
Hydraulic Block	1	steel	casting	manage hydraulic pressure
Gasket	1	plastic	machining	reduce friction between two parts
Shattered Gear	1	steel	machining	unknown
Valve Lever Actuator	1	steel	sheet metal forming	air pressure modulator
Valve Body	1	steel	casting	valve lever actuator
Drive Gears	2	steel	machining	adjusts to gear ratio for either a power or speed ratio
Chain Belt	1	steel	links	transfer mechanical power to gears
Side Plate	1	steel	casting	houses inside components
Filter	1	aluminum/plastic/filter material	Molding (Plastic), Sheet metal forming (Aluminum), air circulation (filter)	air circulation
Medium Sized Clips	2	steel	machining	hold component in place by applied force
Parking Lock Actuator Rod	1	steel	machining	mounts parking lock actuator
Clamp	1	steel	machining	apply force to component to hold it in place
Gasket	1	plastic	molding	reduce friction between two parts
Valve Cover	1	steel	casting	hold valve in place
Short Metal Rod	1	steel	extrusion	supports valve piston
Valve Piston	1	steel	machining	manage hydraulic fluid
Long Metal Rod	1	steel	extrusion	holds valve cover in place
Clamp	1	aluminum	machining	apply force to component to hold it in place
Plastic Cover	1	plastic	injection molding	provides extra support for bolts holding long metal rod in place
Return Spring	1	steel	extrusion	prevents movement of parking lock
Hinge Pin	1	steel	machining	provides axis of rotation of parking lock
Washer	16	steel	machining	reduces friction between parts
Retaining Clip	1	steel	extrusion	prevents movement of hinge pin
Pin	1	steel	machining	holds push rod and actuator gear in place
Push Rod	1	steel	extrusion	supports actuator gear and shaft
Output Shaft	1	steel	extrusion	supports actuator gear
Actuator Gear	1	steel	machining	speed reduction mechanism
Parking Lock	1	steel	casting	contains speed reduction gear
Retaining Ring	1	steel	extrusion	holds components in place
Rings	11	steel	machining	provide friction in outer clutch pack
Inner Retaining Clip	1	steel	extrusion	hold clutch rings/ plates in place
Shock Absorbing Ring	1	steel	machining	reduce vibration between components
Cylindrical Stand	1	steel	machining	mounts inner rings
Inner Clutch Pack	1	steel	casting/machining	allows planetary gears to turn at the same rate
Clutch Plates	6	steel	machining	provide friction in inner clutch pack
Clutch Rings	6	steel	machining	provide friction in inner clutch pack
Locking Belt	1	steel	sheet metal forming	locks clutch in place
Ring Gear	1	steel	casting/machining	adjust hear ratios
Planetary Gear	1	steel	casting, machining, sheet metal forming	adjust gear ratios
Clutch Housing Shell	1	steel	casting	provide housing for clutch pack
Hollow Shaft	1	steel	casting/machining	mounts ring gear, sun gear and ring bearing
Sun Gear	1	steel	casting/machining	adjust gear ratios
Ring Gear	1	steel	casting/machining	adjust gear ratios
Ring Bearing	1	steel	sheet metal forming, machining	mounts sun gear
Planetary Gear	1	steel	machining	adjust gear ratios
Speed Sensor Casing	1	steel	casting	houses speed sensor and its components
Speed Sensor Shaft	1	plastic/steel	injection molding, extrusion, machining, sheet metal forming	holds speed sensor in place
Speed Sensor/Governor	1	copper, plastic, iron magnet	injection molding, electrical transmit	signals a change in gear adjustment

Component Summary

1) Most of the transmission’s components are made up of a metal material, mainly steel and aluminum. Steel is chosen because it is durable and less pliable, making it harder for it to bend unnecessarily in certain components due to the combination of iron and carbon elements. An alternative to steel is aluminum which is used in other components because it is less expensive than steel, very durable and resists corrosion over time. Aluminum also has a lighter weight than steel and can contribute to a better fuel efficiency in a vehicle overall. Plastic is used for components that are the easiest to replace due to the inexpensive cost to produce, its resistance to corrosion and its light weight.

2) The forces applied to each of the components are normal force and gravitational force. The forces applied to the components are dependent on the components mass and is linked to the amount of stress the source of the force application may put on the other component. Most of the components use a force exerted by steel bolts to hold the component in place to avoid unnecessary friction between other components in the transmission. The stress is then measured by a ratio of the force applied over the surface area to which the force is being applied to resulting in the metric units, Newton/ m^2 and English units, pounds/ in^2. The amount of force applied to an object will vary throughout the components due to the varying masses of the components. For example, a plastic component held in place by a bolt with a mass of about .003kg may need a force greater than 0.0294N to hold it in place, whereas a steel rod component of about 2000kg may need a force greater than 19600N to hold it in place.

3) Each component’s material affects the manufacturing process because the cost to manufacture the component, availability of material, the component’s main function, and the component’s expected durability must be considered. During the manufacturing process, particular care must be taken to make the component fully functional, thus making sure that the component’s measurements are accurate and precise to prevent faulty components that may contribute to a malfunctioning transmission in the long run. Most of the components in the transmission are made of steel because it is a strong material and can withstand more pressure than a plastic component can for example. The outer cover that houses the components must be made of a strong material to prevent damage to the interior components which is why steel and aluminum are used the most in the manufacturing of a transmission.

4) Does the shape affect the manufacturing processes? Yes, the shape of the component does affect the type of manufacturing processes used to make the component. The different types of manufacturing processes are Casting, Injection Molding, Sheet Metal Forming, Machining, Extrusion and Bending. An example that shows that shape does affect the manufacturing processes is as follows; a bolt is made by Machining, due to its rod shape, and the threads that are implemented on the rod. A bolt would not use say Sheet Metal Forming, the processes would be too complicated and expensive, when an easier alternative is present, Machining.

5) Why was each manufacturing processes chosen for that component? Each component was made from a specific manufacturing processes based on the component’s size, shape, and material it is made of. The processes used to produce the component was the least complex, and most efficient way to produce the part, while maintaining the integrity of the part as to make sure the component does not fail when in use. The plastic components used Injection Molding, the easiest and most efficient way to create the component due to the properties of heated plastic.

6) Do any components have a particular shape? Why? Every different component has a particular shape, or else the different components would be performing the same job. A bolt has threads to hold pieces together securely, while a gear has threads to rotate another threaded part, creating rotation and movement of mechanical energy. Also the components have to fit together, thus differences in the components’ shape.

7) Our product is designed to be completely functional and not for cosmetics. The reason that our product is not cosmetic is because it is designed to be placed under a car where no one can see it. The transmission is functional because it designed to run for long periods of time with little to no maintenance at all. The designs of this product works really well since most transmissions are reliable and kept out of mind.

8) I believe the manufacturing process was chosen for this product due to the large quantity of products and the amount of parts for it that need to be produced. The manufacturing process would be an ideal solution to both of these problems. During manufacturing, identical parts could be made cheaply and quickly. This is extremely beneficial for making transmissions because large quantities of identical parts is all they are composed of.

9)Our product is fairly complex for its size. The inside of the transmission is composed up of many different smaller parts that all work in unison with each other. The amount of parts inside is what makes our product complex

Design Revisions

Uniform Bolt Head Size One design revision would be changing the different types of bolts used in the assembly of the transmission. Throughout the transmission there was 10 mm and 13 mm head bolts, and in a room where a large amount of students were sharing the same tools, finding two different unused sockets and wrenches was a challenge. If all the bolts could be converted to a uniform head size, that would decrease the complexity of maintenance. Using a uniform bolt head size requires only one size socket or wrench, decreasing the amount of tools needed for maintenance, thus increasing the efficiency of maintenance, saving the owner of the product money.

Lighter Metal Casing

Another design revision would be the reduction of the weight of the transmission casing itself. The casing is made of steel, to withstand the extreme temperatures and forces within the working transmission. The casing is made of thick steel, which vastly increases the weight of the system. By either reducing the thickness of the steel casing, or using a lighter alloy, the transmission system would become lighter, thus increasing the performance and fuel economy of the vehicle. This same idea could be used on other steel parts throughout the transmission. By substituting these parts with more lightweight components, the transmission’s weight will be reduced also, increasing performance.

Improved Materials

One change that could be made to our product is the use of stronger gears. With the addition of newer stronger gears the transmission would be less likely to break down and become more efficient. Another change would be to put in a better oil pan to keep the gears more lubricated and thus cutting down on the heat that is being produced. Keeping the heat low in transmissions is key to making them last longer and not fail.

Solid Modeled Assembly

The solid modeling was done using Inventor. Mason had extensive experience with this program, so he volunteered to create the solid model. The piece was selected because the pieces were easy to create when using a CAD program.

File:Part1-1.pdf

Base Assembly with no additional pieces

File:Part1-2.pdf

First rubber ring applied

File:Part1-3.pdf

Second small rubber ring applied

File:Part1-4.pdf

Spring inserted

File:Part1-5.pdf

Washer placed over spring

File:Part1-6.pdf

Pin inserted through assembly

File:Part1-7.pdf

Key inserted through key hole

File:Part1-8.pdf

Plastic ring applied around pin

• Note: To open the previous link, you must click on one, then click on the name again the the window which opens*

Engineering Analysis

Problem Statement: The clutch disc in a GM transmission makes it difficult for a vehicle operator to shift gears. The operator notices a grinding and chopping noise and it is most noticeable while driving up or down a hill, during passing of another vehicle and when an extra load is being tugged by the vehicle. Inside of the transmission, the clutch disc is producing more heat that it should be experiencing while shifting gears and braking. What amount of friction must be causing this detrimental wear on the clutch disc?

Diagram:

[Shaft]==>[Clutch Pack]

      ||
       ==>Friction Heat

Assumptions: •The vehicle containing the transmission was manufactured within the last three years, eliminating assumptions that the vehicle is relatively aged.

• There are no engine malfunctions.

• There are no brake malfunctions.

• There is no amount of clutch/ brake fluid leaking onto the clutch disc.

• There is no hydraulic linkage malfunction.

• The coefficient of static friction for steel against steel is μs=0.74.

• The coefficient of kinetic friction for steel against steel is μk=0.57.

• The vehicle is not driven under extreme winter conditions.

Governing equations:
fs(max)= μs Fn
fk=μk Fn
∆K=-K=-1/2 mv2 <br<

Discussion: The clutch disc is the barrier between the transmission and the engine. Its primary purpose is to absorb friction from the contact which produces heat. As the clutch disc begins to wear down, more heat is given off when the clutch disc comes in contact between the flywheel and the pressure plate. The more friction the clutch disc experiences the more slipping it begins to do when the transmission is shifting. This friction must be more than the normal friction that the clutch disc experiences under non-hazardous conditions, and conditions that do not put an extra strain on the clutch disc. In order to get a more precise friction measurement, the wear on the clutch disc and the steel it comes in contact with must be examined to analyze the effects of placing an extra payload on the vehicle. Once the calculated amount of friction that the clutch experiences is determined, a value of which it must surpass must also be determined. The value should be greater or equal to the threshold value of the friction. The energy can be calculated using the formula to find the kinetic energy and then converted into heat energy dissipated during contact of the clutch disc.

Causes for Corrective Action

The work and management proposals from Gate 1 worked out fairly well. The issues which needed to be addressed were things such as having meeting times that worked for everyone, while falling during the lab times. This meant that our group was only able to meet as a complete group once. However, on several different occasions small “task groups” met to work on a specific part. These times were decided by Bryan, and were coordinated these in order to fit into the schedule of the involved people. Group conflicts were avoided all together because each part was delegated evenly and played into each team member’s interests and skills.

The challenges which faced the group were primarily due to inexperience of the team in the dissection of automotive parts. A transmission is an extremely complex piece of equipment, and this meant that the wide array of pieces lead to challenges. However, all team members used perseverance and intelligence to overcome any dissection issue which arose. The primary difficulty which was encountered with the way the internal workings of the transmission are all kept in place. GM used a design that implemented a ring with a small section missing that sits between the part that is to be kept in place and a brace. The brace and cylinder have grooves that are designed to allow the cylinder to slide past the brace and in to place. Inserting the ring without grooves prevents the cylinder from sliding back out. In the cramped area of the transmission, and in at least 4 other instances, the rings are very difficult to pry out. The process held up the dissection but eventually was over come.

After dissecting almost the entire project the group came across the last piece inside the outer case. Even with the automotive experience Patrick brought, there was no obvious way to remove the piece from deep in the transmission. Assuming that another point of entry was available the project was flipped over. This allowed the part inside to loosen up and fall out. After taking care of another issue that was easy to do with the case positioned on its side, we lifted the case and managed to get the last few pieces out.

Product Dissection Plan

The product is not intended to be taken apart easily. It requires quite a bit of time to disassemble our transmission. Overall the product is not hard to take apart; it just takes time due to the large quantity of pieces that have to be removed. One part that takes a little time to remove is the many "C" clips that are inside. These "C" clips are designed to hold the different areas of the transmission in place while the transmission is in operation. If these clips were not there then internal parts would be slipping and could possibly ruin the transmission. The only tools needed to disassemble the transmission are basic tools such as screwdrivers, wrenches, and sockets. There is no need for any special tools to be used.

The difficulty scale ranges from 1 to 5 based on level of effort required, time required, tools required and ease of disassembly. 1 being the easiest level requiring minimal time, no tools other than hands required. 5 being the most difficult requiring more time and effort to accomplish using at least one tool or a combined set of tools.

Step #	Procedure	Tools	Difficulty (1-5)	Picture
1	Removed cover plate by removing eight 13 mm head, 10 mm long bolts.	13 mm socket wrench	1
2	Remove bolts on small plate, 13mm bolts, 10 mm bolts.	13mm and 10mm socket wrench	1
3	Removed 10mm bolts to remove hydraulic block.	10 mm socket wrench	2
4	Remove shattered gear pieces.	Hands only	2
5	Remove valve actuator by removing two 10mm bolts.	10mm socket	1
6	Take out valve body by removing one 10 mm bolt and three 13 mm bolts.	10 mm and 13 mm socket	1
7	Extract chain belt and gears.	Hands only	1
8	Remove side plate by extracting sixteen 13 mm bolts.	13 mm socket wrench	2
9	Extract clamp by taking out 13mm bolts. This will release the metal plate being held in place.	13 mm socket wrench and hands	2
10	Remove the two longer clamps by extracting two 13mm bolts.	13 mm socket wrench	1
11	Remove bolt holding the parking lock actuator rod.	13 mm socket wrench	1
12	Remove valve cover by taking out the 10mm bolt holding the clamp in place followed by the three remaining 10mm bolts.	10 mm socket wrench	2
13	Remove short metal rod by extracting the bolts holding the two clamps in place.	13 mm socket wrench	1
14	Remove valve piston.	Hands only	1
15	Extract the bolt holding the clamps in place to remove long metal rod.	13 mm socket wrench	1
16	Remove plastic cover.	Hands only	1
17	Remove the retaining clip holding the hinge pin, return spring and parking lock in place.	Needle nose pliers	3 (Higher difficulty due to the need to remove the tight-fitting metal clip holding the pin in place.)
18	Remove parking lock actuator gear, shaft and push by extracting the pin holding the items in place.	Cylindrical punch, hammer	4 (Higher difficulty due to the time it may take to successfully hold the punch in place to successfully remove pin.)
19	Remove output shaft, washer, and retaining plate.	Hands only	1
20	Extract outer clutch pack.	Hands only	1
21	From outer clutch pack, remove retaining ring.	Needle nose pliers, flat head screwdriver	4 (Higher difficulty due to the many attempts it may take to remove retaining ring from the groove.)
22	Extract the eleven steel rings.	Hands only	1
23	Remove second retaining ring.	Needle nose pliers, flat head screwdriver	4 (difficulty due to the many attempts it may take to remove retaining ring from the groove.)
24	Extract shock absorbing ring.	Hands only	1
25	Remove bottom cylindrical stand.	Hands only	1
26	Extract inner clutch pack.	Hands only	1
27	Take out the six rings and six separating metal rods from the clutch pack.	Hands only	1
28	Remove locking belt.	Hands only	1
29	Remove ring gear.	Hands only	1
30	Remove planetary gear set containing the sun gear.	Hands only	1
31	Remove clutch housing shell.	Hands only	1
32	Remove short shaft.	Hands only	1
33	Extract ring bearing, ring gear and contained sun gear.	Hands only	1
34	Remove planetary/ reversal gear apparatus.	Hands only	1
35	Extract the speed sensor casing by removing the two 10mm bolts.	10 mm socket wrench	1
36	Remove the speed sensor shaft	Hands only	1

Work Proposal

Reverse engineering our transmission is not going to be an easy task. A lot of time is going to be required due to all the parts that are inside. Taking out the pump is going to be the first step. Then you put the transmission on its pan to remove the tail shaft housing, governer assembly, and speedometer gear. The right tools are going to be a necessity for the successful outcome of this project. Some tools that will be required to take apart our project will include screwdrivers, both standard and Phillips head; socket wrenches, either english or metric; and pliers to remove the small parts.

As a group we need to work together to optimize our advantages with our individual skills, and use these skills to mitigate our short-comings. Our team possesses very unique skills and disadvantages which are outlined below, pertaining to each individual teammate.

Miata Wright has had much experience with analytical skills, but mainly her knowledge of disassembling and reassembling machinery and electronics will be of most benefit to the group, since these skills apply completely to the mechanical dissection of our GM transmission. However, Miata’s disadvantage is she is not extremely experienced with specific car components and parts, which could slightly slow down the efficiency of the dissection of the transmission. Nonetheless, her skill in mechanical dissection should outweigh that of little knowledge of car parts.

Bryan Carter possesses great communication, math, and organization skills. Being the head of our group, the traits that stand out to be the most important are his communication and organization. Being the leader of the group will not be an easy task, however, through clear and concise communication and the ability to file and move data and information in a very organized manner will greatly increase the efficiency of our group. The main disadvantage that stands out for Bryan is his lack of patience. Being the leader of our group, Bryan will have to be ready to face the challenges of five individuals working on simultaneous tasks, and the possibility of the group failing to stay with the projected timeline. There are always unforeseeable problems that can occur in a team project of such magnitude that we have, but patience will be the key to keeping the group working smoothly with each other.

Patrick Wright has advantages of hands-on experience with rebuilding cars, and designing and building of robots. That in combination with his above average knowledge in car mechanics and part knowledge will greatly aid our group in the dissection of the transmission. The fact that he has automotive knowledge will help us plan the way we want to dissect the transmission, increasing the efficiency of our group in this project.

Mason Roalsvig has had a history of engineering processes that have shaped him to be strong in the intellectual field of this task. Throughout high school he has taken technical courses that have increased his knowledge with shop tools and components of many mechanical objects. The fact that he has high experience with shop tools will also help us to plan how to dissect the transmission. Since Mason’s strong point is conceptualizing ideas, he will be most useful interpreting the questions we are asked to the data we will have collected, allowing us to forego answering the questions. Mason’s disadvantage is that he is apt to make minor calculation errors in math, which will cause errors in the answer we get, leading to an incorrect answer. Therefore, Mason will be more prominent on the planning of the task, along with the main dissection itself.

Michael Babala also possesses great conceptualizing skills which will help with the overall plan of action for the dissection of the transmission. Michael is able to assess a situation and be able to look at it from multiple points of view, allowing the best option to be decided upon. The disadvantage that Michael has is that he has little to no knowledge of car parts and mechanics at all. This means that Michael will not be the best person to decide how to proceed with the dissection if a problem should arise, however if shown what to do by other members of the group he could carry out simple to moderate difficult tasks within the actual dissection itself.

Management Proposal

In order for the dissection to be successful, there needs to be an establish plan. Each member needs to have a set role, so that everyone knows exactly what is expected of them. With these set roles, each person will be free to work on the project as they deem fit. The only restriction being that each member has deadlines to complete his or her part. Some duties intrinsically overlapped, while others may elect to work independently. Each member realizes that they probably will be called upon to assist others when necessary. A key concept of this group is the creation of a position which is flexible, giving that person the ability to work on whatever is needed at the time. Each team member and their role are as follows

Project Manager - Bryan Carter

The primary responsibility of this position will be to organize the each portion of the project, step by step. Bryan will be responsible for the delegation of work, organization of final materials, establishment of meeting times and locations and assistance to whoever needs help at a given time. Also, Bryan will serve as the primary connection point. He will be responsible for the keeping members updated on current information and deadlines

Lead Technical Advisor – Mason Roalsvig

This position will be responsible the technical side of the project. His primary task will be the work on the solid modeling portion of the project. Mason has extensive experience in the use of solid modeling programs which is why he is the perfect candidate for this position. Further, Mason will help with the construction of the wiki page.

Head Wiki and Media Developer – Michael Babala

Michael will be accountable for all media required for the project. He will take pictures of the project as it is undergoing its various stages. Also, Michael will further be liable for the construction of the Wiki page and making it functional as well as aesthetically pleasing. This is a key position because the Wiki page is the end product. Mike will also be the wiki contact person.

Materials and Components Consultant – Miata Wright

This position was created so that the dissection and piece analysis will had string leadership. Miata will take the reins when it comes to the analyzing each piece of the transmission. She will be responsible for cataloging each piece and making a materials list.

Functioning Analysis and Information Liaison – Patrick Wright

This is the position with the widest array of potential work. The main focus of this position is to work as a bridge between all of the members of the group. Patrick will be responsible for establishing continuity between the members of the group. This will ensure that there are no gaps between phases and insuring the accuracy of what is reported on the Wiki page. Patrick will be an integral part of the team because he will be present during all phases of the project to assist in any way possible.

The following Gantt chart presents when each deliverable task will be worked on and completed.

Initial Product Assessment

1) Automatic transmission is used in vehicles to initiate the clutch and switch between gears with out the aid of user input. Gear changes are now based on the RPM’s of the engine.. The gears switch at corresponding speeds that optimize power and fuel economy. It is optimization is achieved by using gears that change torque and rotation speed.
a. This product is used in both public and commercial use. Vehicles for business and public use both utilize transmission to optimize fuel economy and thus efficiency. This reduces transportation costs for both industry and personal expenses.
b. The product disengages a clutch, which transfers power to the drive shaft. When the clutch is disengaged the gearshift can occur by either shifting up or down in the gear ratios.

2) The transmission works using hydraulic systems consisting of a torque converter which connects the transmission to the engine. The torque converter prevents the engine from stalling while transitioning to higher speeds. A planetary gear set contains clutches and bands that control the timing of clutch release and application sequences. A transmission uses electrical, mechanical, chemical energy to fully operate. Chemical energy stored in a car’s batter provides electrical impulses needed by a transmission. Electronic controls use these signals to initiate mechanical operation among the gears to adjust to the appropriate gear ratio. Its hydraulic system responds by using transmission fluid to negotiate optimum gear selection that would allow an engine to shift smoothly, thus, resulting in higher speeds.

3) The product we received either requires a large amount of torque to use, as well as some electrical power (as there is an outlet of some kind) or does not work. To the best of my knowledge the product does not function.
a. It does not run by itself. It needs to be connected properly to a vehicle or other power source to even find out if it works.
b. The problems it has may be just the fact that upon testing it I could not make it function with the tools that I have but it seems as though it is stuck in its currently place. A miss-aligned shaft or a bolt too tight could cause this.

4) The transmission is a complex product due to the various components that work simultaneously in order for an engine to produce various speeds. A transmission contains over 200 components, most of which contributes to the transmission’s output of power and function of an engine. Each component has a separate function and may be placed into a system that accomplishes a certain task. The individual components by themselves are not as complex as the transmission as a whole. However; the electronic control system, gears and wires are mostly responsible for carrying out the transmission’s operation.

5) A transmission is comprised of mostly metal, most of which forms the visible frame that cover inside components. The gears and bolts within the transmission are also made up of metal. The wires that transmit electrical impulses are made of copper with rubber insulation, allowing for signals to be exchanged between the mechanical components and the transmission’s computer system.

6. The product seems to a larger truck or van transmission. Seeing as the part is not currently working I wouldn’t be so happy with it. I believe it is an automatic transmission, which I do prefer over manual, especially in something like a truck where on a work site there are many things to look for.
a. Automatic transmission is easy to use provided they work. Operation is as simple as driving your car.
b. Any transmission require some level of maintenance. Maintenance is fairly simple. Check for leaks periodically and insure the transmission fluid is changed as per the owners manual. Unfortunately if transmission breaks, especially automatic transmission, repairs are very expensive and sometimes warrant buying a different car.

7) Many automakers develop their own transmission systems. Transmission systems commonly range from 3 to 6 gears. Higher end performance cars and high power vehicles generally have more gears than lower cost economy vehicles. Manuel transmission is also available. This is engaged by a pedal the driver uses and gears are switched using a shifter.
a. Manuel transmission will generally cost $1000-$2000 less in most vehicles, as automatic is more complex and more convenient to operate.
b. A bonus of manuel transmission for experienced drivers is increased fuel economy as well as more control over the wheels. Keeping a car in low gear is important if you get stuck in snow or mud.
c. Automatic transmission is generally better for new drivers as you do not need to focus on the RPMs or speed of the vehicle and can focus more on the road itself. This can be safer due to the fact that new drivers have more trouble gauging speed and RPMs.