5 Symptoms of a Slipping Transmission (And Common Causes)
Slipping transmissions are more common in automatic transmission cars than manual transmission cars, simply because there are more automatic transmissions. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen in manual transmission cars, as it can happen, especially with new or aggressive drivers.
While manual transmission slippage is usually caused by a clutch problem, automatic transmission slippage can have a variety of causes and symptoms. It’s best to address the problem as soon as you notice it; otherwise, the problem will only get worse and become more expensive to fix. In most cases, your transmission needs maintenance. Don’t assume that your transmission is broken just because you have a slipping problem.
The 5 Most Common Symptoms of Gearbox Slip
First, you need to understand the most common symptoms of a slipping transmission. Below are the 5 most common symptoms:
1) Delayed Acceleration
If there is a slight delay between when you press the accelerator and when acceleration begins, your transmission may be slipping. This most commonly occurs when transitioning from park to drive and accelerating from neutral. The delay occurs periodically while driving and gradually gets worse.
2) Engine RPMs Increase but Vehicle Speed Doesn’t
When you press the accelerator, the tachometer RPMs increase, but vehicle speed does not increase in the same way. The rev needle may rise above 3,000 rpm or even 4,000 rpm.
3) Reverse gear won’t work
If you put your car in reverse and it won’t go backwards, a slipping transmission may be the cause. You’ll need a tow truck for this problem, as most parking lots and driveways require you to back up.
4) Difficult to change gears
If you’re having difficulty changing gears, this is not a normal situation. This is most likely due to a slipping gearbox. You may also hear strange noises when changing gears. 5) Burning Smell
You may experience a burning smell when switching. It will spread throughout the cabin and is easily noticeable.
The 3 Most Common Causes of Gearbox Slip
Now that you know the symptoms, here are 3 tips to help you identify transmission slippage as the cause of these symptoms:
1) Low Transmission Oil Level
Most transmission problems start with a low transmission fluid level. This initially causes overheating, burning oil, and low oil pressure. As a result, the gears will not fully engage and the transmission will slip.
Therefore, check the transmission fluid level to make sure there is enough and add oil if necessary. If not, check for transmission oil leaks in the applicable areas.
Leaks can come from the fluid lines, oil pan gasket, oil pan, gasket, or torque converter.
2) Solenoid valve trouble
An electrohydraulic valve called a “solenoid valve” is responsible for controlling the flow of transmission fluid. However, if there is a malfunction in the solenoid valve, the fluid will not flow properly. Connect an OBD2 scanner to your vehicle to determine if this is the cause.
3) Faulty torque converter
The torque converter takes power from the engine and transfers it to the transmission. If the torque converter is worn out or has failed, you may experience transmission slippage or other strange symptoms. Repairing or replacing a torque converter is a somewhat complicated job and may require the services of a professional.