Car Transmission and Drivetrain Systems

Upkeep of your transmission may save you money in the long run. Learn manual and automatic transmission basics, then move on to clutches, differentials and torque converters.

More Auto Topics to Explore

What makes certain car accessories unsafe (or even illegal)?

Modern Cars Are Kind of Boring. Why Is That?

Can car companies let known defects go without a recall?

Do car interiors turn toxic in the summer?

Making a Car Last for 300,000 Miles Is Totally Possible — Here's How

Are cars designed to fail at a certain point?

How long do engine valves last?

Is Your Junk in the Trunk or the 'Frunk'?

You Can't Take Your Fancy Self-Driving Car Out of the City, Yet

The GM Car That Has No Steering Wheel or Pedals

Do red cars get pulled over more often for speeding?

Do red cars cost more to insure?

Are extended car warranties worth it?

How Do I Get Rid of a Dead Animal Smell in My Car?

5 Signs Your Engine Is Losing Power

Should I replace or repair my car?

How Gas Compression-ignition Engines Work

Did cars ever have external combustion engines?

How does engine placement affect handling?

Dieselgate and the Volkswagen Cartel

Diesel Isn't Always a Worse Polluter Than Gasoline

10 Cold-weather Motorcycle Accessories

Is all motorcycle apparel made of leather?

What motorcycle accessories will help me stay cool?

10 Car Features We Wish Came Standard

How Laser-powered Headlights Work

How Air-Conditioned Seats Work

How to Avoid a 'Hurricane Car'

6 Automotive Parts You Can Easily Recycle

Get Money For Your Old Car Batteries

How does vertical acceleration work?

The Dirty Truth About How Often You Need Your Oil Changed

Do you really need to pay for that 30,000-mile service?

Why Do Tires Blow Out More in Summer?

Winter Tires Really Do Make a Difference in the White Stuff

Why Carmakers Are Ditching the Spare Tire

Can your car tell you when the light's about to change?

How the Open Automotive Alliance Works

How Paintless Dent Removal Works

Learn More

Gas-powered vs. Electric Cars: Which Is Faster?

The answer isn't as simple as it seems.

By Cherise Threewitt Jan 15, 2019 Under the Hood / Transmissions & Drivetrain

Are manual transmissions really faster than automatics?

You've proudly driven a stick shift all your life, so you already know that manual transmissions accelerate faster than automatics. End of story. Well, that was once true, but things have changed.

By Cherise Threewitt Under the Hood / Transmissions & Drivetrain

What are manual transmission synchronizers?

Manual transmission synchronizers are devices that eliminate the need for double clutching when changing gears. Learn how manual transmission synchronizers work in this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors Under the Hood / Transmissions & Drivetrain

How to Identify a Transmission Fluid Leak

You find liquid leaking from your car and are at a loss about what to do. Learn about how to identify a transmission fluid leak in this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors Under the Hood / Transmissions & Drivetrain

Transmission Pictures

Manual, automatic, sequential, dual-clutch -- these are just a sample of what you'll see in this image gallery. Check out pictures of all types of transmissions right here.

Under the Hood / Transmissions & Drivetrain

How Clutches Work

You probably know that any car with a manual transmission has a clutch -- it connects and disconnects the engine and transmission. But did you know that automatics have clutches, too?

By Karim Nice & Charles W. Bryant Under the Hood / Transmissions & Drivetrain

How Dual-clutch Transmissions Work

Most people know that cars come with two basic transmission types: manuals and automatics. But there's also something in between that offers the best of both worlds -- the dual-clutch transmission. Check it out.

By William Harris Under the Hood / Transmissions & Drivetrain

Traction Control Explained

Traction control helps limit tire slip in acceleration on slippery surfaces. Many of today's vehicles employ electronic controls to limit power delivery for the driver, eliminating wheel slip and helping the driver accelerate under control.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd. Under the Hood / Transmissions & Drivetrain

How CVTs Work

In a regular transmission the gears are literal gears -- interlocking toothed wheels. Continuously variable transmissions, on the other hand, don't have interlocking gears. The most common type operates on a pulley system. Learn all about the smooth-operating ultra-efficient CVT.

By William Harris Under the Hood / Transmissions & Drivetrain

How Sequential Gearboxes Work

Combine the ease of an automatic with the driver control of a manual and what you've got is a sequential manual transmission. A simple forward push advances the gear. Learn all about the sequential gearbox.

By Marshall Brain Under the Hood / Transmissions & Drivetrain

How Automatic Transmissions Work

Both automatic and manual transmissions accomplish exactly the same thing, but they do it in totally different ways. And it turns out that the way an automatic transmission does it is pretty amazing!

By Karim Nice Under the Hood / Transmissions & Drivetrain

Why does my manual transmission car make a loud whirring noise in reverse?

Manual transmissions use mostly helical gears, but reverse is a special situation that requires a different type of gear -- a spur gear. Learn why a spur gear makes a loud whirring noise when the car's in reverse.

Under the Hood / Transmissions & Drivetrain

How Differentials Work

Car wheels spin at different speeds, especially when turning. The differential is what lets a car make turns with ease. Find out how this key component allows the wheels to rotate at different speeds.

By Karim Nice Under the Hood / Transmissions & Drivetrain

Why do some dump trucks have extra moveable axles?

I see many dump trucks with wheels on two rear axles on the ground and a third axle with elevated wheels that can be lowered. These seem to be used when the truck is full -- but why include what must be expensive hardware to raise and lower the wheels? Why not just keep them down at all times?

Under the Hood / Transmissions & Drivetrain

How Manual Transmissions Work

What does that funny "H" pattern on my car's gear shift have to do with my transmission? How does it make the car change gears? And when I mess up and hear that horrible grinding sound, what is actually grinding?

By Marshall Brain & Cherise Threewitt Under the Hood / Transmissions & Drivetrain

How Gear Ratios Work

Gear ratios are what allow a car to reach a high rate of speed or climb a steep hill. Learn about gear ratios, gear trains and planetary gear systems.

By Marshall Brain Under the Hood / Transmissions & Drivetrain