What Is a Quick Fix for a Slipping Transmission?

Fluid is a good thing to check for a slipping transmission.

When a transmission is working properly, gears shift smoothly to drive, reverse or park a vehicle. However, sometimes problems occur resulting in a transmission slipping.

Cause

One of the main causes of a slipping transmission is leaking fluid. Transmission fluid can leak from places such as the driveshaft seals, the torque converter or the pan gasket of the transmission. If the fluid gets really low, the transmission could fail to work altogether.

Check

A dipstick that indicates low transmission fluid levels could mean fluid is leaking. You need the engine idling with the vehicle in park as you make this check. If there is still no leak to be seen, it may be a leak in the transmission fluid cooler in your radiator.

Fix

If a leak is not the reason your transmission fluid levels are low, adding back the proper amount is a quick fix for a slipping transmission. The full mark on the dipstick is what should be used to avoid overfilling. Too much transmission fluid added can negatively affect the way a transmission functions.

References

• AA1Car: Diagnosing Automatic Transmission Problems