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The Various Types of Automatic Gearboxes and How They Work

Model: (Various brands) Various
Part: Transmission

Video tutorial
Detailed instructions - There are three main families of automatic gearboxes: those with torque converters like ZF and MG, which are especially used by Toyota and employ a hydraulic converter instead of a clutch; motion is transmitted via fluid in turbines. They are smooth and robust, used in large displacement cars and SUVs. Then there are the automated manual gearboxes like MTA or Easytronic (Opel) and Selespeed (Alfa), which are manual with robotic actuators that operate the clutch and gearbox. They are economical but often abrupt. Finally, there are dual-clutch gearboxes like DSG (Volkswagen), TCT (Fiat), and Easytronic (Ford) with a separate clutch for even and odd gears: they provide rapid, sporty shifting but are complex. All require maintenance every 40,000 to 60,000 miles, even though manufacturers claim they are maintenance-free. They need to be flushed with a complete replacement of the old oil, filter changes, and ECU diagnostics. These are costly interventions, but neglecting maintenance can lead to gearbox damage costing up to £10,000. Sometimes, it may be more economical to scrap the vehicle.

Posted on 30 September 2026 by ScegliAuto


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To set the clock on the Vespa 125 Primavera, press and hold the black button located just below the black knob on the bike: keep the button pressed until the hour number starts to flash. Once it is flashing, you can change the hours with single presses of the same button; then, by pressing and holding the button again, the hour number will stop flashing and the minute number will start to flash, which can be modified in the same way, confirming the input by holding the button.

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