The First Patented Automatic Car Transmission

On October 18th, 1934, the automotive world was forever changed by the patent of the world’s first vehicle transmission.

While the automatic transmission wasn’t exactly a brand-new idea, as many other car makers were creating their own versions, there was hardly a universal blueprint for it. The current model that many car makers were using was hardly perfect, and in fact, was riddled with flaws and missteps.

At least that was the case until an Armenian-American inventor by the name of Oscar H. Banker came along and changed the face of how automatic cars were made.

Who Created the First Automatic Transmission?

As mentioned above, Oscar H Banker was the inventor of the world’s first patented automatic transmission.

Although this car maker wasn’t the first to introduce an automatic transmission, he was the first to have it enter the automotive world for consumers to purchase.

General Motors had released a semi-automatic car in the same year that Banker applied for his patent, but it was found to be extremely unreliable and choppy.

Hence why Banker’s automatic transmission was the preferred one to be used after he later released it officially a few years later. His automatic transmission design used hydraulic force and was more durable, safe, and considerably easier to use for consumers.

Oscar Banker, the Automotive Pioneer

Oscar H. Banker invented the first functional, patented, and mass-produced automatic transmission the world had ever seen. However, that wasn’t the only thing he created in the automotive industry.

He also holds patents on a very early power steering system, and the primary controls of the world’s first Sikorsky helicopter. His patent for the controls of a helicopter is what founded the first production of helicopters in 1941.

Banker went on to create a whole host of incredible inventions and patents to support their construction. However, his work will forever be most remembered because of his invention of the world’s first automatic transmission.

Oscar H. Banker passed away in 1979 at the age of 83 years old in Cleveland, Ohio.

How Do I Know If I Need a New Transmission?

There are many tell-tale signs of a failing transmission, but some of them can mimic symptoms that are related to other mechanical issues with your car. That’s why it’s a good idea to get your vehicle serviced by a professional mechanic who can diagnose the true nature of your car’s issues.

Things to look out for in a failing transmission include:

• A burning smell
• Shaking or jerking while driving/starting up
• Slipping gears while shifting
• Unusual engine sounds like grinding
• Transmission fluid leaks
• Low transmission fluid
• Metal shavings in your oil
• Check engine light on
• Your vehicle breaks down

If you are experiencing any of the above signs and symptoms of a failing transmission, get a definitive diagnosis from your mechanic. If they tell you that you need a transmission replacement, you can sell your car to us for MORE cash instead of paying thousands of dollars to replace it.

How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Transmission?

To put it simply; a lot. Transmission replacement or rebuilding are one of the most expensive repairs that can be done on a vehicle, second to an engine replacement. However, the labour involved with replacing a transmission can really rack your mechanic bill up even higher.

Typically, the cost of a transmission is dependent on what type of vehicle you drive, what type of transmission it requires, and if any other components need replacement also. Generally, a transmission replacement on a vehicle can cost anywhere from $2,500 – $8,000.

Newer vehicles that are more expensive (on the luxury end of the car spectrum) can be much more costly, leaning towards the $8,000 range. This is because when you own a premium vehicle, repairs are usually at a premium price as well.

This is why so many people choose to scrap their older vehicles that have mechanical issues like a failing transmission instead of repairing them. Fortunately, More Cash For Scrap always offers MORE cash for scrap cars with bad transmissions. Instead of paying an arm and a leg to fix an old car, scrap it with us instead and put some cash back in your pocket.

Which Vehicles Have the Most Transmission Problems?

Generally, if you’re driving an automatic transmission, it’s typically constructed in much the same way as every other. Although there are minor differences between car makers, some have a much longer lifespan than others.

The same is said for some vehicle brands that have fewer mechanical issues or transmission problems. Below are the top 10 vehicles that are known to have the most transmission problems as reported by consumers.

They Are As follows:

As you can probably see, the vehicle brand that specifically has the most consumer reports complaining about transmission problems or failure is Nissan. Although many of the transmission repairs required on a Nissan vehicle can be covered under warranty, who wants to have to deal with all that hassle?

What Causes a Bad Transmission on a Car?

More often than not, transmissions fail on vehicles because of poor construction, or excessive wear and tear due to overuse. But those aren’t the only reasons.

Many times, transmission failure can be the result of consistently pushing a vehicle too hard to do things it’s not intended to do. Like towing loads that are far greater than recommended in your owner’s manual.

Or taking a vehicle up logging roads or off-roading when they aren’t a 4×4 specifically designed to withstand that kind of use.

One of the other most common causes of transmission failure is poor maintenance. If you don’t get regular oil changes and have things like your fluids topped up and your spark plugs changed, this can affect your vehicle’s overall performance. Ultimately, affecting your vehicle’s transmission.

How Can I Prevent My Car’s Transmission from Going Bad?

There are many things we can do as car owners to help protect your transmission, which in turn, prevents premature failure (or any, really). Here are a few key tips to consider when owning a vehicle, particularly one that is older or known to have transmission problems.

• Keep the transmission fluid and oil topped up
• Get regular oil changes
• Get tune-ups periodically
• Have your car inspected by a mechanic if you are experiencing any signs or symptoms of transmission problems
• Use the correct transmission fluid for your car
• Do not overfill the transmission fluid

Consult your owner’s manual to find out which transmission fluid your vehicle requires, and whether or not it needs to be changed. Some vehicles will never need a transmission fluid flush, while others need it at certain intervals to prevent failure.

Can I Sell A Car with a Bad Transmission?

You bet you can! You can sell your car to More Cash For Scrap no matter what kind of mechanical issues it has. We buy cars for MORE cash even when they have failed transmissions, dead engines, collision damage, electrical problems, or simply do not run.

If you want to sell your car for quick cash instead of sinking thousands of dollars into replacing or repairing your transmission, scrap your car with More Cash For Scrap. We always pay MORE!

We Pay MORE Cash for Scrap Cars in Metro Vancouver & the Fraser Valley

We’ve been the leading scrap car removal company in all of the Lower Mainland since 2005. That’s because we pride ourselves on living up to our name every single day by always paying MORE cash for scrap cars, trucks, SUVs, and vans.

Regardless of why you are selling your vehicle, we’ll buy it and offer you MORE cash for it than any of our competitors. No keys? No wheels? No registration? No problem! We buy them ALL in ANY condition, with ANY issues.

Just give our team of scrap car buyers a call today to find out how much your vehicle is worth. You might be surprised!