Jalopnik: Transmission

Why PRNDL?

Jason Torchinsky — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST

I normally drive a manual transmission, and generally prefer to, but I'm not blind to the charms of an automatic. Shifting your own gears — what are we, animals? Sure, I get why people want it. And I imagine everyone who's spent any amount of time in an automatic must have wondered, at least once, why PRNDL? More »

Are You Really Able To Drive a Manual Transmission Car?

Murilee Martin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 19:00:00 EDT

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Is it really true that nobody knows how to drive a stick these days? I tend to doubt the "automatic transmission is destroying our ability to drive" gloom-and-doom crowd, but who can say? Time for a totally unscientific poll! More »

This Is Nissan's GT-R Launch-Control Warranty Settlement

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 09:00:00 EDT

When Nissan released its GT-R, buyers soon discovered that using the vehicle's launch-control feature led to a blown transmission and voided warranty. One owner started a class-action lawsuit and prevailed, but the rest may get screwed. Here's the official settlement. More »

Drop Everything! Long-Awaited Ate Up With Motor Hydra-Matic History Is Out!

Murilee Martin — Sat, 29 May 2010 20:00:00 EDT

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Those of us who have read and re-read all the back Ate Up With Motor articles have been pacing our garages, waiting for Mr. Severson to finish his promised History Of The First Non-Terrible Automatic Transmission. Guess what? It's done! More »

How To Tow A Jaguar Equipped With An Electronic Shift Lever

Sam Smith — Wed, 05 May 2010 17:30:00 EDT

A Jaguar XFR recently suffered electrical failure while in my care, and its electronic shift lever became locked in Park. When the time came to tow it, the car had to be in neutral. Here's the trick to shifting it. More »

Police Brutality '63 T-Bird Nukes Transmission, Team Not Fazed

Murilee Martin — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 01:00:00 EDT

Some 24 Hours of LeMons teams simply give up when faced with mechanical woes; we've seen teams load the car on the trailer after a fuel pump failure. Not so with Police Brutality! More »

Music For Swingin' Transmission Swappers!

Murilee Martin — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

After hearing the Datsun 710 Theme Song yesterday, I remembered that my old industro-noise band, Murilee Arraiac, recorded a song entitled "Chrysler New Yorker." More »

More Lexus Tranny Porn!

Ray Wert — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EDT

The hybrid auto tranny porn from Lexus the other day wasn't the only cut-away action on the Tokyo Motor Show floor. Without further ado, here's the 8-Speed automatic transmission from the Lexus LS460. More »

VW Voluntarily Recalls 13,500 Vehicles Over DSG Transmission Woes

John Krewson — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:30:00 EDT

VW of America says a small number of Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, GTI, and Eos models built between September 2008 and August 2009 may have faulty DSG transmissions and has recalled 2009 and some 2010 vehicles. [PRNewswire] More »

520 HP Mitsubishi Colt Drops Transmission Onto Highway... Literally

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EDT

We didn't think a Mitsubishi Colt was capable of 520 HP, however, during an acceleration run in this kid's Colt, a nasty clunk led to the clutch rolling past. The transmission literally fell out. More »

Aussie Hoons Develop Nissan GT-R Launch Control Fix

The Auto Insider — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 10:30:00 EST

We all know and love the new R35 GT-R, but what about the reported transmission failures when using the launch control feature? One Australian company has a solution. More »

GT-R Owner Busts Tranny Using Launch Control, Nissan Claims Issue Not Covered Under Warranty

Mark Arnold — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:40:00 EDT

Someone claiming to own a Nissan GT-R has proclaimed on the North American GT-R Owners Club forums (NAGTROC) that his GT-R's transmission has broken after multiple uses of the vehicle's launch control function. The owner says that when the vehicle was then brought to the Nissan service center, where he was told the destroyed transmission would not be covered under warranty due to the car being driven too often with the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) shut off. Another forum member clarifies that "you have to turn off VDC to activate LC, and you have to sign a paper saying your warranty is voided if you turn of VDC, and while VDC is off, you cause damage. It is clearly stated in the manual/warranty, as well as is put into writing and you have to sign, when you pick up the car." Below the jump, the personal account, in the owner's words, from a thread titled "do not launch your gtr or take the vdc off, time to bend over guys its gonna hurt."

I was driving my gtr two weeks ago and I heard a loud noise coming from the rear. I turned immediately had my gtr towed to crown nissan st. petersburg fl. They didn't touch my car only called some techs from tennessee to look at the car and record the noise, 4 days later two guys from japan to download some info from the car then left. Then I get a call from the dealer to tell me the news, and they told me that the car was driven without vdc too much and nissan will not warranty the transmission which they said was destroyed, I asked them how much to fix it they told me 20k, no freaking way I will pay 20k on top of what i just paid for the car. I called the gtr number and also talked to nissan consumer affairs got nowhere, now the car is sitting at the dealer. I know we shouldn't launch the car but why own it if you cant use this function, don't sell a car that goes 0-60 in 3.4 sec if the only way you can achieve this speed is to void the warranty , false advertising. Here is the bad news people were fearing it has happened to me and Nissan has told me there are already three people in my shoes, if you are one of these people email me, we have got to get together on this. Just think if any of you guys have taken the vdc off just a few times you have already voided your warranty, good luck what a joke nissan.

Since poor grammar doesn't lead to high credibility, we're wondering what the owner isn't telling us. At the same time, it seems odd that Nissan would build a supercar with a significant part like the transmission unable to handle hard use. What do you think? Is this guy a moron that hooned his car beyond the reasonable limits, or does he have a valid point to his complaints? [read the entire thread at NAGTROC] (Hat tip to Michael!) More »

Reckon Your Transmission Job Cost Too Much? Jerry Clower Suggests Mr. Transmission

Murilee Martin — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EDT

This 80s classic starts out much like a mashup of a Monty Python skit and Deliverance, complete with grotesquely huge mechanic pounding an ancient adding machine, nebbishy customer sporting bottle-bottoms, and Southern Sheriff-esque shop manager. Then Jerry Clower appears, in his role as Mr. Transmission spokesman. Yes, they'll even rebuild your Rush-Matic! More »

Automatics Closing Fuel Economy Gap On Manuals; Engines, Electronics Lending A Hand

Andrew Stoy — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:20:00 EDT

In a stringer piece for the Detroit News, Rex Roy makes the observation that automatic transmissions are finally beginning to catch up to stick shifts in fuel economy. While we say "it's about damn time," considering automatics make up more than 90% of the US new vehicle market, we simultaneously lament that same fact. Also, we think photog-cum-journo Roy misses out on an important component of the improvement: The interface between engine and transmission and the technologies that make the entire powertrain system more efficient. Join us after the jump for a look at why it's not just the two extra gears in your slushbox doing all the work. More »

Vote For Your Favorite Transmission Name!

Murilee Martin — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EDT

We got waaaay more entries than we expected in yesterday's Create The Jalopnik Transmission Name contest, so after slogging through all the suggestions (and discarding those with Astroglide references, you pervs- this is serious business here!) we've come up with thirteen finalists instead of the planned "few." The winner gets 25 Little Tree air fresheners and the glory of seeing his or her creation proudly emblazoned on each and every transmission to come off the planned Jalopnik-operated Wall Of Death Transmission Factory assembly line. Make the jump and make your vote count! More »

Rush-Matic!

Murilee Martin — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EDT

The Simca Vedette came with a scaled-down flathead Ford V8, and any French car that looks like a tiny late-50s Chrysler with a 2.1 liter flathead Ford under the hood is aces in our book... but when that car comes with an automatic overdrive unit with a name as cool as Rush-Matic... why, it vaults straight into the Jalopnik Hall of Fame! Check out this Vedette ad to see the amazing Rush-Matic in action. [Club Vedette] More »

Rock Crusher!

Murilee Martin — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EDT

So far we've had only automatics in the Cool Transmission Name Of The Day series, but that doesn't mean The General's indestructible Muncie M-22 doesn't deserve its day of CTNOTD glory. Oh, sure, "Rock Crusher" wasn't its official name, but I'm making up the rules here and I say it qualifies! In addition to being named after the Indiana town of its manufacture (giving Muncieites the right to look down their noses at residents of Saginaw, Michigan, where the wimpier GM 4-speeds were built), the Rock Crusher was installed in Muscle Era GTOs, Corvettes, GSXs, and the like. [Year One] More »

Toyoglide!

Murilee Martin — Thu, 29 May 2008 14:00:00 EDT

We aren't bothered by the fact that Toyota's first automatic transmission was based on GM's famous two-speed Powerglide, because Toyota came up with one of the best transmission names of all time: Toyoglide! You could get your late-60s/early-70s Crowns and Coronas with the Toyoglide option, and it's a shame that Toyota doesn't use the Toyoglide name on their current offerings. Photo credit: Hemmings Auto Blogs [Wikipedia] More »

Cool Transmission Name Of The Day: Ultramatic!

Murilee Martin — Wed, 28 May 2008 16:20:00 EDT

We haven't forgotten the Engine of the Day series, but all the research I've been doing for the next round of EOTD entrants keeps turning up the incredible futuristic names that manufacturers used for automatic transmissions. Back when the slushbox was the Next Big Thing, everyone had to have a catchy name, and today we're going to look at Packard's: the Ultramatic! The two-speed Ultramatic was introduced in 1949 and was used until the end of the Packard era in 1956. Image credit: Autotransmission.fi. [Wikipedia] More »

What's The Proper Orientation Of Manumatics?

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 28 May 2008 11:40:00 EDT

Today's review car, which you can read about above, features three ways to clutchlessly shift gears. You can push/pull the thumb buttons, push/pull the shifter or just let the automatic do its thing on its own. Assuming you've given in and gotten a slushbox with the manual mode, we're going to give you credit and assume you'll mostly choose the gears yourself. This brings up the question of which is the proper orientation? Wes and I got into a long debate about this ourselves, not being able to agree if it should follow the racer model of forward (away from you) for downshifts and towards you for upshifts, or do the inverse. More »

Real $500 Race Cars Have Manual Transmissions... And Inner-Tube Shifter Boots!

Murilee Martin — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:00:00 EDT

When we started out to build a V8-powered Volvo 244 for the May 10-11 24 Hours of LeMons race, most of the team members assumed we'd be using the good ol' C4 automatic transmission. You know, automatics are way easier to swap, with no troublesome clutch linkage to futz with. But Crew Chief Hellhammer (formerly known as Dave) pointed out that he's built plenty of manual-equipped rods, and then he directed our attention to several Ford V8-compatible T-5 5-speeds (and no C4s) sitting in the weeds behind his shop (he's been working on a '57 Ford project, so his stash-o-parts is heavy on Ford running gear). With our minds filled with images of slushboxes overheating and dying at last year's Altamont race, we decided to go with three pedals instead of two... then held our collective breath when it came time to make it happen for real. More »

Sometimes You Must Buy The Emblem

Murilee Martin — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EDT

I violated my "No Emblem Clutter" policy last week, when I found this Malaisetastic Caddy V8-6-4 emblem at the junkyard, and now I've fallen off the wagon again. It is not possible for me to discover a junked '68 Peugeot with an "Automatique" emblem and not dredge up $2.99 for the thing. I have no idea what I'll do with it, but for now it shall live on my office bulletin board. More »

M-Power! Five Things We Know About BMW's Dual Clutch Transmission

Mike Spinelli — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 08:42:53 EST

Add another true automanual tranny to the growing list. Call it the M double-clutch transmission with DriveLogic. It's BMW's new 7-speed switchgear that's shipping with the new M3s, and likely will replace the divisive, largely poky and cumbersome — that is, without some serious futzing — M-Sequential (SMG / SMG II) automated manual. The SMG system uses a high-pressure hydraulic actuator to shift gears, with the latest version (i.e., SMG II) offering five automatic modes and six manual modes and shift times in around 80 miliseconds. In dual-clutch systems, like BMW's new system and VW/Audi's DSG, one clutch handles gears 1, 3, 5, 7 (and reverse) and the second handles 2, 4, 6 — they work alternately, engaging and disengaging in a complex dance that allows for uninterrupted upshifts at speeds of a few milliseconds. An algorithm takes into account throttle position, engine speed, road speed and shift mode in use when calculating shift management. What else do we know about the new M double-clutch transmission with DriveLogic? Click through. More »

The Island That Time Forgot: Hurst Mystery Shifter Display

Murilee Martin — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 14:30:00 EST

I forgot to mention one of the most important reasons for having so many surviving old cars on the streets of Alameda: Lee Auto Supply. This old-school auto-parts store has been in the same brick building on Park Street since the 1920s, and now stands as one of the only remaining independent parts stores in northern California. If you go to Lee Auto and ask for, say, a timing-cover gasket for an unknown-origin Ford 289 engine that you bought for $50 from some guy and dropped into your F-100, you won't get a puzzled teenager asking you for the year/make/model so he can punch it into The Computer and give you the wrong part. No, you'll get a genuine parts guy, who will have stories to tell about the 289-powered Comet he used to blow the doors off some dude's Barracuda at City Line back in 1973, and you'll leave with exactly the right part... More »

Report: BMW to Launch Dual-Clutch Tranny in M3 Sedan

Mike Spinelli — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 08:30:32 EDT

As a leaked dealer memo indicated earlier this year, BMW's set to launch a DSG-style automanual in its new M3. Having seen neither hide nor hair of the new clockworks in Frankfurt, we're moving on to the next report. That is, word from AutoTelegraaf that the new, electromechanical seven-speed — developed with Getrag — dubbed "M DCT" will debut with the M3 sedan. Talk is of faster, smoother shifts than the M5's unwieldy SMG setup. LA or Detroit debut? Place your bets. [AutoTelegraaf via Motor Authority] More »

Report: Mercedes Seeks Supplier for Eight-Speed Manumatic

Mike Spinelli — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 09:00:28 EDT

According to German mag Auto Motor und Sport Mercedes is looking toward suppliers to provide a new eight-speed, dual-clutch gearbox rather than build such clockworks in house. The move would give Merc a performance differentiator against Lexus and BMW, who are pursuing fully automatic eightswappers. According to the report, usual transmission suspects Getrag or ZF will be the most likely for the project. We suggest Shimano. [via Motor Authority] More »

Crack Open A Cold Powerglide Road Soda, Buddy!

Murilee Martin — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 11:30:32 EDT

Back when I was young and broke and living with a houseful of other young, broke slackers, we figured out that it was possible to make our own beer; once the beermaking hardware had been purchased and enough non-twist-off bottles had been obtained, the opaque, yeasty homebrew we bootlegged up in the garage cost about $5 per case to produce and usually tasted tolerably good. Well, tolerable, anyway. Thing was, guests at our parties were afraid to drink beer out of ominous-looking unlabeled bottles, so I quickly set to work with the old ransom-note cut-and-paste layout technique... More »

Mitsubishi's New Evo Hardware

Mike Spinelli — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 07:30:51 EDT

How will Mitsubishi make its new Evo X a tool for super amusement? We know it'll be the 2.0-liter turbocharged MIVEC4 engine with aluminum cylinder block and the potential for 300+ horses out of the box. But what of the ground-drive system? (Yep, there's a press release for that.) Mitsu released new details about its Twin Clutch SST dual-clutch tranny and Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC) system — sporting more sensors than a Seawolf-class sub. S-AWC includes active yaw control (ask a pilot) and an active center diff. Mitsubishi says its dual-clutch jobbie will improve fuel economy (yeah, sure) and improve zero-to-60 times over manual (with anyone but Tommi Mäkinen at the helm). We'll see it all in Tokyo, where the maximum super potential for action will be this year. More »

Chrysler Goes Long on Getrag Dual-Clutch Tranny

Mike Spinelli — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 11:14:16 EDT

Automotive News reports Chrysler is wagering the north 40 on a new dual-clutch manumatic it developed with tranny builder Getrag. The two companies have built a $530 million plant in Indiana to churn out the gearboxes, to which Chrysler will have exclusive rights. Word is, the six-speed DSG challenger will first appear in 2010 linked to Chrysler's new Phoenix V6, which will be equipped with cylinder deactivation. No word yet on whether Chrysler will license the tech to other carmakers, but we'd imagine such a big investment may force a tipping point that starts the revolution. – Mike Spinelli More »

The Gang That Couldn't Find First: Carjackers Thwarted by Stick Shift

Mike Spinelli — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 07:32:01 EDT

What's wrong with society when carjackers can't even work a stick shift and third pedal. Do they want the world just handed to them? It's true. Two teenaged carjackers from Georgia fulfilled their charter, jacking a guy's car outside a pizzeria. But when one of them jumped behind the wheel and saw that strange, floppy stick and the alien footrest to the left of the brake, they were flummoxed. After several moments of adrenaline-fueled bafflement, the teens hit the bricks and were later captured. Something must be done about this trend of lawlessness. Bob Bondaurant, call the front desk. – Mike Spinelli More »

Pretty Damn Kwick: Porsche Set To Launch Dual-Clutch Gearbox, Call it PDK

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 09:00:00 EDT

Straight off the editor's desk from the News That Surprises No One Department comes more info on Porsche's coming double-clutch manumatic gearbox. (That means one clutch handles the odd gears while a separate clutch toggles the evens.) According to the UK's What Car, they're calling the tranny, "Porsche Doppel Kupplungen," or PDK for short (making it as easy on the options sheet as VW's DSG). But when will it arrive, and in what models? A report from last year indicated the heirs of Ferdinand will offer the new box across all model lines. So keep your ears pointed northeast, because the noise Farago makes when the PDK shows up in a Boxster is going to make Howard Dean seem like a mute. And by shaving off a heap of milliseconds between shifts, it could mean the Tiptronic 911 Turbo's 3.4 seconds to 60 mph could be quite a laugh one day. – Jonny Lieberman More »

Leaked Dealer Memo Confirms DSG-Style Box for BMW M3

Mike Spinelli — Thu, 31 May 2007 09:34:51 EDT

According to Jalop commenter b33g33, BMW has been working like a bunch of hydrophobiac beavers on their version of the VW/Audi dual-cluch automanual known as DSG. We never doubted the lost Gibb brother's truthiness, but additional evidence has arrived from Autocar. The mag says it's in possession of a dealer memo advising that the coming, V8-powered M3 will get a new, DSG-style tranny. The all-new gearbox comes via partner Getrag, and will be called M DCT. According to A-car, it'll provide "rapid and nearly imperceptible shifts" when it hits the market in 2008. The M3's relatively low torque output of 295 lb-ft at 3,900 rpm likely eases the burden, since beefier engines have been said to grind DSGs into chocolate pudding. Nonetheless, much fun will be had by all, undoubtedly. – Mike Spinelli More »

Spy Photos: Jaguar XKR with JaguarDrive

Mike Spinelli — Wed, 30 May 2007 06:39:12 EDT

Looks like Jaguar's taken its new, stickless shifter kit to the streets. The spy photo establishment picked up a few shots of an XKR sans J-gate shifter and with, ahem, no noticeable vertical protrusion from the console. The obvious conclusion is the JaguarDrive system (shown), introduced in the C-XF concept car earlier this year, may not be exclusive to the coming XF model. Will the new, button-heavy configuration set Jag apart from its Germanic competitors, or are we watching another iDrive misfortune in its early stages. Right; too soon to tell. – Mike Spinelli More »

Seven-Speed DSG Manumatic on the Way

Mike Spinelli — Mon, 21 May 2007 08:55:35 EDT

If you're addicted to banging off shifts with VW/Audi's DSG box, you'll soon have a new cog to swap. We've already heard Porsche is working on a similar seven-ratio box, but according to the UK's WhatCar? a new seven-speed DSG automanual will arrive this year. VW's new Direct Shift Gearbox, originally the creation of tranny house Borg Warner, will first appear on the VW Rabbit/Golf. The new sprocket will allow a tighter fit between first and second, which will reportedly improve acceleration while allowing for a taller top gear. But the fragile box is said to top out at 184 lb-ft of torque, so don't expect it to show up in the Audi RS4 anytime soon. It's strictly a low-end enterprise, for now. As for Porsche's system, which would have to be at least twice as robust to survive? That's a question best left to the sultans of Bruce. – Mike Spinelli More »

Six is for Peasants: ZF Unveils 8-Speed Automatic

Jonny Lieberman — Thu, 03 May 2007 13:30:00 EDT

When the Bangled 7-series dropped just a few short years ago (2002), one of its high-tech highlights was the world's first 6-speed automatic by transmission maker to the stars, ZF. Shortly after the Bimmer dropped, Jaguar, Audi, Bentley, Land Rover and Ford (in their Australia only RWD Falcon) adopted the smooth and torque hungry slushbox. But then Mercedes-Benz came out with a 7-speed auto. Worse, Lexus scooped everyone with an 8-speed. For all those fancy marquees a 6-speed automatic ain't going to cut it. And it won't have to, as ZF just announced their new 8-speed autobox. Aside from the two-extra cogs, ZF is claiming about 6% better mileage compared to the old 6-speed. The new transmission will also send more engine power to the wheels, which we salute. Additionally, the 8-speed has been designed with AWD and hybrid applications in mind. As for the bigger question, will we see a 10-speed auto in 2011? Oh yes, we hope so. Unless DSGs replace conventional autos in high end cars. – Jonny Lieberman More »

Want a 5-Speed In Your Monte?

Murilee Martin — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 16:57:50 EDT

Of course you do. We all do; every last '78-88 GM A/G-body car is simply crying out for five on the floor (preferably with a bench seat). The General didn't much like the idea (though he did build a few with manual transmissions, mostly Saginaw 3-speeds) but everything you need to do the job right is readily available at the junkyard and/or eBay. The internet is truly a wonderful thing; here's an extremely helpful site that looks like it took as much work to create as did the transmission swaps it documents. Good step-by-step description, plenty of helpful photos, and all for free! – Murilee Martin More »

Proof: Vanquish S with Six-Speed Manual

Mike Spinelli — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 08:38:56 EST

If you weren't yet aware through your connections at the Swiss bank, the Aston Martin Vanquish S will be offered with a six speed manual. That to satisfy enthusiast bankers who spend the weekend using all 12 cylinders to dodge the trams in Zurich. But the option can also be retrofitted on Vanquish models all the way back to 2001. But it's not exactly a blue-light special. In the UK, the six-speed manual is a 15,568 option. Don't even bother doing the conversion unless you have enough gold reserves to cover it. – Mike Spinelli More »

Automotive Killer App? The Zeroshift Automanual

Mike Spinelli — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 08:55:07 EST

If your idea of nirvana is clutchless gear changes with zero lag up and down the cogway, today may be your birthday. So says UK-based Zeroshift, which claims to have developed an add-on mechanism that replaces a manual tranny's synchromesh. It's called the Zeroshift Automated Manual Transmission (AMT), and the company says it can change gears seamlessly — more efficiently than VW/Audi's sublime DSG box. (Here's how it works.) The chart pictured shows the AMT in use on a TVR Cerbera 4.2 equipped with a Tremec T5 five-speed manual. The company says on passenger cars it can reduce wasted fuel, while in more sporting applications — well, you know. – Mike Spinelli More »

Eight! With Coming ZF Box, BMW Will Match Lexus

Mike Spinelli — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 09:56:13 EST

The great cog war of the 2010s may involve cars with as many gears as our first Schwinn. But let's not get ahead of ourselves — we're still on eight. Last year, Toyota broke the seven-speed threshold with an eight box for its Lexus models. Now, BMW will soon be offering a new eight-speed automatic transmission — developed by tranny powerhouse ZF — in its 7-Series as early as 2009. Benefits of the additional gears include more closely matching engine speed with gearing, faster shift speed and better mileage. Boy, we can't wait for those 21-speed "mountain" cars of the future. – Mike Spinelli More »