Compare gearbox repair quotes from specialist garages in Birmingham

Birmingham is the second-largest city in the UK, so you're sure to be spoilt for choice when choosing a garage. Getting around the city is easy, with eight local rail lines, trams run by West Midlands Metro and regular buses by Arriva. There is a congestion charge zone, known as the Birmingham Clean Air Zone, inside the A4540 Middleway Ring Road. You may have to pay if you enter it. Did you know Birmingham was the first city in the U.K. to have a hydrogen fill-up point for cars?

A Clean Air Zone (CAZ) operates in Birmingham to improve air quality and specifically reduce public exposure to nitrogen dioxide, a pollutant produced by traditional combustion engines. This goal is achieved by encouraging the use of cleaner vehicles, such as EVs, and restricting high-pollution vehicles. Many CAZs charge drivers for entering them, though some are non-charging. Before driving in Birmingham, it's worth checking online whether you will have to pay for driving through the zone.

You may encounter a congestion charge in some parts of Birmingham. Congestion charges are used to reduce the number of vehicles driving in a busy area, often a city centre, by making drivers pay a daily tariff to enter them. The charging zone usually operates at certain times, and once you have paid, you can leave, drive around and re-enter it as many times as you would like within that day. You can find more information about Birmingham's congestion charge online.

Driving in cities like Birmingham puts extra strain on your car due to long periods of idling and frequent stopping and starting in traffic. The parts most at risk are the brakes, cooling system and transmission. Manoeuvring into tight parking spaces and navigating busy roads can result in scuffed alloys and dented or scraped bodywork while driving over potholes can throw out your suspension. FixMyCar can help you find affordable repairs and maintenance in Birmingham for all these crucial components.

The gearbox's role is to change the speed of a vehicle. Due to the number of moving parts involved, gearbox problems are relatively common. Below are some signs to look out for and potential causes.

If your car slips out of gear, the gears are likely worn down. Low transmission fluid can cause your gearbox to be noisy in neutral, or your car may not go into gear at all. Checking the fluid level is simple, as we explain here.

When you notice your clutch dragging, this often happens when the flywheel and clutch fail to disengage. A burning smell may be due to the transmission fluid overheating. As soon as you notice these symptoms, contact a car gearbox specialist who can offer advice.

Manual gearboxes are usually easier to maintain because they are simpler; an automatic gearbox repair or semi-automatic gearbox repair requires more specialised skills, so it's essential to find the right transmission specialist.