How To Tell What Transmission I Have

If you’re lucky, you’ll never need to find out what kind of transmission you have, but things do go wrong and you may need to replace a part or make a repair. 

If that happens, how would you know what kind of transmission you actually have?

Fortunately, it’s really not all that hard to figure out, and there are several easy ways you can do the research:

1. Consult your vehicle’s owner manual or other documents you received when you bought the vehicle, as these may contain specs about the transmission, along with the recommended type of fluid to use. 

2. Use your auto’s vehicle identification number (VIN). You’ll find this 17-character number either on a placard inside of the driver’s side door or at the bottom left of your dashboard, depending on the car’s manufacturer. There are several free “lookup” websites where you can enter this number to obtain relevant and basic information you should know about your vehicle, including the type of transmission you have, engine number, cylinders, etc.
3. Try a general internet search using Google or any search engine, using your car’s make and model to get information about your transmission, and lots of other interesting stuff about your vehicle, too. 

4. Look for the information on the transmission itself, which will sometimes have the type tagged or stamped on it; you might also be able to tell by looking at the transmission oil pan. Admittedly, this isn’t the most convenient way to find out what you need to know, but if you’re so inclined to explore under the hood, it’s an option. 

5. When all else fails: Take your car to your local mechanic. They’ll know how to tell—probably just by the kind of car you drive—what your transmission type is, and it won’t take them a minute.  Once you have the information, record it alongside the other details you keep about your car—it will save time in the future. 

All that being said, not all transmissions are created equal, and replacing even a small component with the right parts and accessories is essential for a safe, correctly functioning transmission system.  And you definitely want to make sure you have the best products around.

Whatever You Need

Sun Transmissions is your source for excellence in auto parts. We have the best of whatever you need for your automatic transmission and power steering system, from gaskets to transmission rebuild kits.

We also invite you to browse our blog, where you will find all kinds of useful information about your transmission, its operation and spare parts, such as transmission control system malfunction, and much more.

We’d be happy to help you in person or to ship to you anywhere in the U.S. Let us know what we can do!