5 Common Automatic Transmission Problems

September 13, 2018 | By Mister Transmission

5 Common Automatic Transmission Problems

Transmission problems can be a real hassle. If your muffler isn’t working properly or if you’re tires are not properly pumped up, these are problems that should definitely be attended to as quickly as possible, but they’re unlikely to ruin your whole day. A problem with your automatic transmission, however, that can cancel all your plans for an extended period of time. It can also be very dangerous. But knowledge is power, so let us arm you against potential automatic transmission problems by discussing five of the most common problems, their causes, and their solutions.

  • Insufficient Levels of or Degraded Transmission Fluid

This is perhaps the most common problem, but if it is caught early enough, it can also be the easiest to fix. Transmission fluid is the lifeblood of the transmission. An automatic transmission cannot work properly without enough transmission fluid. Furthermore, that fluid needs to be of a sufficient quality.

The truth is that there is no automatic transmission problem that cannot be caused or exacerbated by a lack of quality transmission fluid. Checking and topping up one’s transmission fluid is a very easy and painless process. You can do it yourself or bring it into Mister Transmission and we can do it for you. However, if you’ve perceived problems with your automatic transmission, the first thing you should do is check your fluid.

Sometimes a transmission will have the correct level of fluid but the fluid itself will be degraded. Good fluid will be a reddish, translucent colour. An unpleasant odour or discoloration indicates that the fluid is no longer in good shape and/or there are other problems with your transmission. Mister Transmission can remove your fluid and replace it with new fluid if we suspect that is the problem.

  • Slipping

Automatic transmissions sometimes have the problem of slipping. This happens when your transmission “slips” out of one gear and into another. As you can imagine, this can be a very unnerving, annoying, and even dangerous problem. Slipping transmissions also often cause the vehicle to have trouble accelerating.

As mentioned above, a slipping transmission can be caused by a lack of transmission fluid. This should be easy enough to fix, but this problem could also indicate a more serious problems. A slipping transmission could also be caused by worn out or broken transmission bands, clutches or gears or by solenoid problems.

  • Grinding

Grinding is the opposite problem of slipping. An automatic transmission will sometimes grind when you try to shift gears, making it difficult to do so. Interestingly, a grinding problem can be caused by all the same things that can cause a slipping transmission.

  • Noises

It pays to listen to your transmission. Generally, it should not be very noisy. Unusual and especially loud noises are often a sign of a problem with an automatic transmission. If you shift the gear to neutral and it’s still noisy, you likely have a transmission problem. Also, keep an ear out for whining, clunking, and humming.

  • Check Engine Light

If your check engine light is flashing, please don’t ignore it. Bring it to your local Mister Transmission for a free multi-check and diagnosis as it could indicate an automatic transmission problem.

Get in touch

If you would like to learn more about some common automatic transmission problems, their causes, and their solutions, please get in touch with us today.

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Customer Reviews
Great staff and service, my...
Dave Leitner
Great staff and service, my truck had transmission problems and they fixed it right away, I recommend them!
Date: November 20, 2023
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Work was perfect
Rick Greenhough
Work was perfect
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Great people, knowledgeable and very...
Tanya “Smokin’Granmommy”
Great people, knowledgeable and very helpful thank you
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So I just purchased a...
Doug Baumken
So I just purchased a 2015 Evoque . There was nothing wrong with the trans , I just wanted to do any required maintence . The manager told me that Range Rover does not recomend any fluid change . Now he could have told me that , YES he could change the filter and fluid and bill me $500.00 plus , but he did'nt , he told me the truth , which I might add does not happen to often anymore . I highly recommend this business , and it's not hard to understand the reason why they have been in business so long . Thank You -SIR, for your honesty
Date: November 17, 2023
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Dave is knowledgeable and will...
Dennis Babb
Dave is knowledgeable and will get your ride back running how it should recommend using Lethbridge mister transmission
Date: November 17, 2023
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Jason & his team are...
Dahlia Chaudhery
Jason & his team are extremely professional,helpful, communicative and I appreciate the service they provided me with my Mercedes transmission flush . They kept me updated with texts got me booked in within a timely manner. Would highly recommend them .
Date: November 17, 2023
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No one wants car trouble,...
Fanta Tait
No one wants car trouble, but Coquitlam's Mr. Transmission made mine better than your average car repair. Thanks team!
Date: November 16, 2023
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I would highly recommend this...
Joe Lima
I would highly recommend this shop,they're very busy but the service is excellent.
Date: November 15, 2023
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Ken has been and continues...
Subie Norm
Ken has been and continues to be our family's go-to guy for all things driveline and transmissions related for probably close to 2 decades now. He's honest, transparent, and master of this craft. We get peace of mind knowing that it's done right. We've had everything from transmissions and differentials rebuilt by Ken on our Ford heavy duty vehicles to even some custom driveshaft repair work on our Subaru. He replaced those pesky non serviceable joints on the Subaru driveshafts with serviceable ones, instead of needing to replace the whole shaft assembly (would have cost a lot more). Every repair has been flawless. More recently my old Subaru Forester developed a squeak in the rear end. Brought it to Ken and he was able to diagnose and pinpoint several potential areas where the noise was likely coming from. After he worked his magic, the noise is now gone! Highly recommended! Thanks Ken!
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Fixed my work truck transmission...
Timothy Arthurs
Fixed my work truck transmission quickly, truck drives great and timeline was good. Got me back to work and the truck drives perfectly
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