What is Drivetrain, and What Are Its Issues?
Everyone has a deep and abiding affection for their vehicle, but are you fully knowledgeable in the complexities of your beloved ride?
Having a basic understanding of your car's systems will help you take better care of it. And that's exactly where we come in.
Learn all there is to know about a car's drivetrain right here! Throughout this post, we cover everything from defining what a drive train in a car is to the issues it can experience.
What Is Drivetrain?
The drivetrain is not just one component in your vehicle; rather, it is a set of pieces that collaborate to transmit the rotational power generated by your engine to the wheels.
The term "powertrain" has probably already been introduced to you. Although the term is commonly interchanged with "drivetrain," they are, in fact, different things.
Everything from the engine to the transmission is considered part of the powertrain. Everything else that makes the automobile move is included in the drivetrain, not only the engine. Here, we'll talk about the possible warning signs of drivetrain failure.
Possible Warning Signs of Drivetrain Failure
The sooner a drivetrain fault is detected, the easier it is to fix. You can save time and money in the long run if you know what to look for.
Now that that's out of the way let's discuss some of the most typical issues with the drivetrain and their root causes.
Vibrating and Shaking
The drivetrain starts to fail if you feel significant shaking and vibration when shifting gears or while driving in general.
Damaged U-joints are the most typical root cause of this issue. Your drivetrain will start shaking more and more as they loosen, and if you don't do anything, it will completely fail.
More Disturbing Vibrations
Clunks and grinding noises are indicative of more serious issues than simply excessive vibration. Clunking noises or sensations when driving or shifting may indicate solenoid packs have worn out or the U-joints have become too loose.
Over time, the friction surfaces of your vehicle's transmission may wear out, leading to issues like clunking and grinding as you shift gears. The latter issue may also result from using unsuitable transmission fluid.
Leaking of Transmission Fluid
Drivetrains are extremely vulnerable to transmission fluid leakage. To maintain the transmission's efficiency and longevity, fluid is required.
Every time you go behind the wheel with a transmission leak might be inflicting damage. Bring your car in for maintenance if you see any splashes of red liquid under it after parking.
The good news is that resealing the transmission leaks is all that has to be done to fix the problem.
Conclusion
Regular inspections of the drivetrain can help identify and resolve any maintenance issues before they require costly repairs. It is possible to inspect the transmission and other drivetrain components as part of routine maintenance.
At Euro Car Doctor, we have ASE-certified technicians who can diagnose any drivetrain problems and will fix them immediately.