Manual Transmissions

[renegade_987]

K, so I have never owned a stick shift vehicle. I learned to drive my grandpa's and everything but that has been the extent of it. I recently heard that manual trannys never really go out because all of the work is done by the driver, not the transmission itself. Is that true? I know auto's go out because of age but is it the same for manual. TIA!

 

[volk06]

Not completely true. Making a manual transmission last is all about the driver. You have a lot of the same components, actually a firm shift in an auto use to be better than a smooth shift due to the slipping before it engages. If you have an inexperienced driver that is always missing/grinding gears and riding the clutch, it wont last long.

 

[SLCraig]

It is very rare to blow up a manual trans. Automatics actually wear as part of their function but manuals really do not wear much especially if a good fluid is in place. I replaced a trans in my 96 SL2 when I did the clutch job with one that had lower miles. The fluid looked original in the trans when I picked it up from the wreckers. The trans shifted like butter and never gave me a hint of trouble at all. My friend still drives that car. Another nice thing about manual is there are no electronics at all. They really only have a vehicle speed sensor and a reverse light switch, that's pretty much it. <3 Manuals!

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

The tranny on my Scion xB failed at 136k with metal shavings in it. I put a slighly used one in it for less than 3 grand. I never had one go like that in 30 years, But clutches I've had to replace from time to time.

 

[440Magnum]

Manual transmissions eventually wear out (synchros, shift linkages, clutch, and sometimes even gears and bearings). In addition, a driver can outright BREAK a manual transmission more easily than an automatic. But on the whole, I'd say manuals generally last longer if you consider replacing the clutch as a maintenance item rather than a "breakdown."

 

[JOD]

I don't think there's an easy answer to your question--it probably depends on the specific model. mid-2000's V6 Accord? No question the MT will be more reliable; mid 2000's Corolla? the AT will probably be more reliable. Subaru? Your overall maintenance costs will probably be less with a 4EAT than the 5MT, because the clutches seem to wear more quickly on that car, and clutch jobs are expensive. And if your 4EAT ever does blow up, used ones are readily available for cheap--and the labor is probably less than doing a clutch. There have been examples of both AT's and MT's lasting ridiculously long, so I really think the answer to your question is "it depends".

 

[Scooby]

The 2003-2004 Toyota C59 in the Corolla, Matris,??? is definitely and exception to this. I've been driving manuals for 20 years from small cars to 550hp trucks and I am very easy on tranny's. The input shaft bearing on these suck!!!

 

[crw]

I've been driving for about 30 years now, both manual and automatic. I've never had an automatic transmission problem, but I have had a manual go out on me. Mustang with a T5. Go figure. Never had a clutch go out either. Generally, manuals are thought to go longer, but add in the clutch... I think manuals have the edge, but there is no clear winner. I think you also have to factor in the maintenance, and the actual transmission itself. For example, a lot of minivans seem to have transmission problems....not that I have ever had one, but I hear the distress stories about it all the time. Like, just a week ago my sister had her Pontiac Montana transmission with 70K miles go out, right before traveling for Thanksgiving and with Christmas coming.

 

[Cristobal]

You still need to keep the oil in there. But they wear out. How fast depends on your technique. In 1997 I sold a 1978 Toyota Corolla. I was the original owner, and I had put about 300,000 miles on the odometer. It still had the original clutch but the synchros and first gear wheel were worn out. On the other hand, I have seen people wear out a clutch in 5,000 miles. I see guys on upgrades with their car moving back and forth at a red light; they are riding the clutch.

 

[mpvue]

Originally Posted By: crw

...For example, a lot of minivans seem to have transmission problems....not that I have ever had one, but I hear the distress stories about it all the time. Like, just a week ago my sister had her Pontiac Montana transmission with 70K miles go out, right before traveling for Thanksgiving and with Christmas coming.

minivans are usually used for local driving under load, worst case scenario for a auto. and, I'd suspect, the owners are more likely to not keep up with trans maintenance (fluid? what fluid?) for that matter, most non-enthusiasts don't hardly keep up with oil changes, much less trans fluid services or even checking tire air pressure!

 

[440Magnum]

Originally Posted By: crw

For example, a lot of minivans seem to have transmission problems....not that I have ever had one, but I hear the distress stories about it all the time.

This is part of the reason that I won't own minvans, not because they're "uncool" or anything at all to do with image. They're front drive with a lot of pressure on the engineers to make the drivetrain small so it packs out of the way of the passenger compartment. So the transmissions are small and light-duty, and the rest of the van is big and heavy. Now throw a payload of 7 people and/or lots of heavy stuff, and *now* drive it in stop-and-go traffic so the transmission is constantly shifting and the TC clutch rarely locks to reduce heat. Minivans are just pretty much doomed to transmission problems unless the manufacturer finally realizes that the tranny has to be strong. I think Chrysler *finally* got it right with their 6-speed. I think Toyota finally got it right. Honda keeps getting worse instead of better. :-/ To carry the same load and serve the same functions as a minivan, give me a rear-drive SUV. I'll pay the penalty in gas mileage and less interior space for the advantage of a stronger, longer-lasting drivetrain.

 

[saberz]

Originally Posted By: GROUCHO MARX

The tranny on my Scion xB failed at 136k with metal shavings in it. I put a slighly used one in it for less than 3 grand. I never had one go like that in 30 years, But clutches I've had to replace from time to time.

My tC's tranny was very quick on the clutch engagement, literally lift your foot slightly and that was the catch point. Took me awhile to get used to it as most were mid-way through the clutch depression. And no matter how smooth my engagements were it never shifted smooth. The Saturn Astra I test drove was smooth as silk shifting.