Transmission and clutch repairs

We service and repair automatic transmissions, manual gearboxes, clutches, drivetrain and CV joints. Most of this work starts as something small. A shift that’s got lazy, a clutch pedal that bites higher than it used to, a shudder pulling away from the lights. We’ll find out which it is, then quote it before we touch anything.

Signs your transmission or clutch needs looking at

• The car shudders or hesitates as it changes gear.
• An automatic hunts between gears on a hill, or holds a gear too long.
• The clutch bites right at the top of the pedal travel.
• You can smell the clutch after a hill start or a few sets of lights.
• A gear crunches on the way in, or reverse fights you.
• Red or brown fluid on the driveway under the middle of the car.

What a transmission or clutch repair involves

First we work out whether the transmission needs a service or work inside it. That usually means a road test, a look at the fluid, a check for leaks, and reading any fault codes the car has stored. Those four things usually decide how big the job is.

Servicing an automatic means draining and refilling it to the manufacturer’s schedule, with a filter or a pan gasket where the design calls for one. Not every car has a published interval and some units are sealed, so we go by what the manufacturer says for your model.

A clutch is a wear item. Replacing one means dropping the gearbox out, so while it’s out, the flywheel, release bearing and rear main seal are normally checked too. Doing those at the same time saves pulling the gearbox out twice.

If the fault turns out to be a sensor telling the transmission the wrong thing, it folds into diagnostic work and gets quoted the same way. Bigger driveline jobs sit alongside the rest of our mechanical repairs.

Transmission work and your logbook service

Transmission fluid is on the schedule for plenty of cars, so it’s often something we do as part of a logbook service while the car is already up on the hoist. If the gearbox is the reason the car is coming in and the service is close, say so when you ring and we’ll line the two up. Either way you get detailed and itemised billing clearly explaining all work performed and parts used, so you can see what was service and what was repair.

What to tell us when you book

Tell us what the car is doing and when it started. Whether it happens cold or hot, at low speed or on the motorway, under load or coasting. If a warning light came on, say which one. Ring us on (02) 9557 2913 and describe it in your own words, and we’ll ask the rest.

Questions about transmissions and clutches

Does an automatic transmission need servicing?

Most do. The manufacturer sets the interval for your car, usually on kilometres, time or the kind of driving it does. Some transmissions are sealed and have their own rules, so we go by the schedule for that model.

How long does a clutch last?

It depends almost entirely on how and where the car is driven. Stop start traffic and hills wear a clutch faster than open road kilometres. There’s no useful figure we could give you without looking at yours.

Can you tell what’s wrong before the gearbox comes out?

Usually we can narrow it a long way with a road test, a fluid check and the car’s own fault codes. Some faults only confirm themselves once the gearbox is out. We’ll tell you which situation you’re in before you commit to anything.

Do you work on manuals as well as automatics?

Yes. Manual gearboxes, clutches, drivetrain and CV joints are all part of the same work.