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A slipping transmission is one of the most common transmission problems that there is. When you first begin to experience a slipping transmission, it might only be inconvenient, frustrating, and unnerving. But left unrepaired a slipping transmission can be a major and even a dangerous problem. That is why you should bring your vehicle in for a transmission repair as soon as possible after experiencing some transmission slippage. But how does one fix a slipping transmission?

Slipping transmissions

When a transmission slips it means that your car changes its gear –or slips– without you intending to do this. If you’ve never experienced this,  you can probably imagine how troubling and discomfiting this can be. While not necessarily a sign of oncoming major transmission failure, slipping does indicate that your transmission is in serious need of service and repair. To leave it unchecked is to put both your vehicle and yourself, as well as other drivers and pedestrians, in danger.

The causes

With regards to manual transmissions, the cause of slippage is usually associated with the clutch. Both manual and automatic transmissions utilise clutches. For manual transmissions, a clutch problem is the most common culprit for a slipping transmission (in the rare event that it is not a clutch issue, it’s likely due to leakage). Often what you’ll see is a worn out clutch that has become too thin.

Automatic transmissions contain clutch plates throughout the transmission as well as in the torque converter which may become worn or burnt from inadequate transmission fluid. To fix this, you will have to get the clutch plates replaced immediately and also change the fluid.

Low fluid levels are often involved with any problem that involves slipping transmission. Low fluid levels can contribute to a host of various problems, such as overheating and a lack of hydraulic pressure being produced to engage gears. If you suspect you have a low level of transmission fluid, you should check your levels as soon as possible. If so, add more fluid in order for the gears to engage properly, and check underneath your vehicle for any transmission fluid, as leaks can obviously lead to low fluid levels.

Ineffective transmission bands can also contribute to slippage. Transmission bands can become worn and broken, which can cause transmission slipping as well as engine troubles and worn out gears. Bands are what link the gears in the automatic transmission together. To fix this problem you need to replace or adjust the defective band. Transmission slipping can also be affected by worn out gears, solenoid problems, or torque converter issues.

Transmission repairs

We’ve discussed some of the necessary repairs to transmission slipping above, but obviously, the repair needed will vary depending on the cause of the problem. For low fluid levels, you’ll need to add more fluid to repair the problem. For burnt or damaged fluid, you’ll need to drain the exhausted fluid and replace it with new fluid. For a leak, however, at least part of your transmission will need to be resealed to prevent further slipping and transmission problems.

Contact us

For other problems such as ones that concern the torque converter or the solenoid, the required transmission repair can be quite complex and will necessitate special equipment. To learn more about slipping transmission and the required repairs, please do not hesitate to contact us today.