Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVTs) have been around for quite a long time, but for some drivers this type of transmission still remains a mystery. CVT transmissions have certain design peculiarities, which have a significant impact on rules of operation of these units. In this article, we will consider the main aspects of driving CVT-equipped cars and learn how to avoid early visits to repair shops.

The main differences between these two units lie in the fact that the 2WD output shaft is longer than the 4WD version and 4WDs are connected to a transfer case. Some carmakers manufacture their 2WD transmissions in such a way that they can be transformed into 4WD models.

The design of a four-wheel drive vehicle ensures the capacity of transmitting torque from the engine to all four wheels of the vehicle. Structural arrangements of 4WD systems allow realizing the full power potential of the car, its road handling, active car safety. The four-wheel drive car can be abbreviated as 4x4, 4WD, or AWD.

Automatic transmissions function with the help of hydraulic pressure to implement the process of gear shifting itself, and utilize valve body solenoids to handle the pressure of the ATF to specify the shifting points. There are many solenoids responsible for different gear shifting operations, and in this article we will have a closer look at downshifting solenoids.

Progress does not stand still as new technologies emerge in the automotive industry every day. Special attention should be paid to significant achievements of automobile engineers in the field of automobile technologies. Pre-selective transmission technologies gained significant popularity with the release of DSG6 and DSG7 transmissions designed by Volkswagen.

Three years ago, at the Geneva auto show Toyota Motor unveiled its hybrid Lexus LC500H model. At first sight, there is nothing special about this grand tourer, but when you take a look at the powertrain specification, you may be surprised by its unique and innovative transmission setup.

In the second half of the 90s, marketing specialists of Toyota noticed that automated (or robotic) manual gearboxes gave been gaining popularity in Europe. Thus, the company decided to develop its own robotic gearboxes FreeTronic and Multimode, which are considered by many experts and car enthusiasts to be far from the most successful Toyota designs.

If you've ever considered Porsche models as an option when buying a car, you must have come across an unusual abbreviation PDK, when examining Porsche’s specifications. This advanced transmission solution, built in-house, ensures extremely fast gear shifting and found application in numerous Porsche models for a good reason.

There is a family of automatic transmissions, which surprises even ardent admirers of manual transmissions by its reliability. We are talking about the ZF8HP family designed and manufactured by the German company ZF Friedrichshafen.

Clutch assembly is not an easy task that requires time and perseverance. To avoid frequently needless and expensive replacement of the whole unit, prior estimation is a must. In such cases, ZF Aftermarket is eager to share its solid experience in the transmission repair with the repair shops, helping to prevent errors specifically related to clutch plate mounting.

CVTs have one “mysterious” component named a fluid degradation counter (or just fluid counter), which raises many questions among auto enthusiasts. Owners of cars equipped with CVTs constantly argue whether it is necessary to reset the oil counter after the oil change.

In the early 50-es, automatic transmissions were widely used on many American cars. The success of this innovative transmission didn’t go unnoticed in the USSR. In this article, we will consider the main stages of transmission technologies development in the USSR on the examples of major Soviet carmakers ZIL, GAZ, and VAZ.

Automatic transmission failures frequently manifest themselves in kicks and jerks when shifting gears (car with automatic transmission starts to consume more fuel). There may be many reasons for the abovementioned symptoms, but a specific reference should be made to the automatic transmission cable. In this article, we will consider the process of transmission adjustment, or, to be more precise, transmission cable adjustment and its peculiarities.

As a rule, many car owners assume that various technical liquids and lubricants, including transmission fluid, do not have an expiration date , i.e. they can be stored as long as necessary before intended use. But it is a mistaken belief, because the shelf time of transmission fluids is limited by manufacturers. In this article, we will consider this issue in more detail.

Design solutions implemented in Honda cars frequently surprise the automobile community by peculiar technological approaches. One of the brightest examples is the design of automatic transmissions developed by Honda engineers. In this article, we will consider the main features of Honda automatic transmissions, their pros and cons, as well as the specifics of their maintenance.