All right, so before I ask my question, I would like to point out that I am not "technically inclined" when it comes to cars. I know where vital fluids go and how to change them, but that is the extent of it. So, I'm kind of a n00b when it comes to most things.

I was thinking about this on my drive home from work. I drive a car with a column-mounted shifter. Where exactly is the gearbox? Is it in the same place as a car with a floor-mounted shifter? Or in a different place? How does the gearbox know to disengage park for instance in either form?

I honestly want to know, and you know, become a little more educated about the car I drive.

[/noob]

OK. Transmission is in the same spot- the engine must transmit power thru it (the only mainstream variation of this is a transaxle: in a RWD car, the transmission is integral with the rear axle/differential (nee: Corvette)- but ignore that for now). Floor-shift and column-shift merely uses different linkage to control the trans under the floor/behind the motor. P-N-R-D gear changes are accomplished by the linkage, 1-2-3(-4)(-5)(-6) shifts are controlled internally when in D/OD.

Auto transmissions are simple in theory, but complex mechanically.

What make/model vehicle are you daily driving?

What make/model vehicle are you daily driving?

1997 Mercury Sable with the 3.0 Vulcan.

OK, so peering underneath is not going to turn on many lights for you: a FWD/transaxle car is going to look like... I don't know what as far as determining the logical mechanical progression of things. Too much gobbily-guck. Crawl under a full-size RWD (if there are any non-4WDs in NH) pickup if you get a chance- lots of room to see the basics.

I'll say this, tho- most vehicles built after -say-1980 are more a hinderance to learning automotive mechanics than something built earlier. More & more are FWD, and the emissions & electronics alone, not to mention downsizing, just hinder understanding. Case in point: you have to remove one rear wheel and the inner fenderwell on the 911-esque porsche just to get at the oil filter.

Not exactly the same thing, but as XP715 once stated (and I agree 100%) : There is zero pride in working on a new car because it sucked before you started and it'll suck when you're done.

There is zero pride in working on a new car because it sucked before you started and it'll suck when you're done.

i dont think there has been a statement made on this site i have agreed with more... new cars suck.. i dont like computers, i dont like everything made out of plastic... and i like the fact i can change a sparkplug with out having to know 10 years of yoga

Thanks for explaining, it does make more sense now. I guess I know who to contact if I have stupid* auto questions

*not "where is the dipstick" stupid, mind you.