Car transmissions are located forward in the car between the engine and the drive shaft, the long rotating bar down the center of the car. Car's have a hump through the passenger area, so the drive shaft can be recessed. Whether automatic or standard, transmissions have the same components: a shaft connecting the transmission to the engine's power, a clutch for engaging and disengaging gears, the gears for transmitting power to the drive shaft, a case to contain the transmission filled with fluid. The transmission fluid is both for lubricating the fast-spinning gears and as a gear coolant.
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Removing the transmission
Except for adding more fluid, there is nothing to repair on a transmission without pulling it from the car. You will have to put the car on a lift so you can access the underside. You will also need a transmission stand. This device holds the transmission in place while you remove the fasteners.
Start by disconnecting the drive shaft from the transmission. It's held by a bolt and comes off easily. Drain the transmission fluid through the drain port on the transmission case. Discard this fluid because when reassembled you will add new transmission fluid. Never use old fluids and place it back in the car. Place the transmission stand under the case and adjust the height so it neither pushes nor has a gap between the stand and the case.
Forward of the transmission is a flange surrounding the case's front with a series of bolts. Remove each of these bolts and the transmission case can be lowered from the car.
Gears
Remove the fasteners to open the case. You will find a series of concentric gears of various diameters. These are the drive gears you change through when accelerating and slowing down. Any gear that is damaged, has worn teeth and does not mesh completely with the shaft must be replaced. Any shaft with worn teeth not meshing fully with a selected gear must be replaced. Also, check the shaft's exit from the case to where it connects to the drive shaft. Replace the seals keeping a tight fit at this aperture.
Clutch
The clutch is two plates located in the car and revealed when removing the transmission case. The pressure plate on the clutch can wear with time and lose adhesion to the clutch plate. When this happens, replace the pressure plate. A singe bolt in the middle of the pressure plate is removed and the pressure plate comes off. Install the new plate and reinstall the bolt. Just be sure to keep any grease or oil off the face of the plates -- this allows the plates to slip and properly transfer power during shifting from gear to gear.
By anyone's definition, automatic transmissions are a marvel of engineering. These crucial components have relatively few moving parts, but must function as...
