The Most Common Causes Of Transmission Slips And How To Fix Them | Sea Foam

THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND HOW TO FIX THEM

OVERCOMING TRANSMISSION SLIPS

A common issue with automatic transmissions, especially as they age, is slipping. This can be felt when you step on the gas and the engine revs, but your vehicle doesn’t move accordingly.

You might feel that your car isn’t moving through the gears normally, or is having trouble staying in gear.

Automatic transmissions have many moving parts, which means that there are several ways they can malfunction, break down, or accumulate wear and tear. Thankfully, most problems can be caught and fixed before you have a total transmission failure, which can leave you with a costly bill to repair or replace the unit. Let’s take a look at the most common causes of a slipping transmission.

SOLVING TRANSMISSION SLIPS

The best way to avoid TRANSMISSION SLIPS is to perform routine preventive maintenance on your vehicle, starting with manufacturer recommendations.

The key to keeping up your automatic transmission is, you guessed it, maintaining proper fluid levels and changing fluid when recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer. If you’re changing fluid on your own, keep in mind that there are several types of transmission fluid. You should only use the type specified by the manufacturer.

And remember, correcting a rough idle early is the best way to prevent more serious problems down the road.

common causes of transmission slips

Automatic transmissions have many moving parts, which means that there are several ways they can malfunction, break down, or accumulate wear and tear.

Thankfully, most problems can be caught and fixed before you have a total transmission failure, which can leave you with a costly bill to repair or replace the unit. Let’s take a look at the most common causes of a slipping transmission.

TRANSMISSION FLUID

Like engine oil, transmission fluid is extremely important; without it, or the right amount of it, your transmission won’t work properly. Fluid issues are the cause of, or at least involved in, most of the problems you could have with a transmission, including those listed here. A few things to look for with fluid specifically:

For starters, your transmission fluid could simply be low. If your vehicle has a dipstick for transmission fluid (not all do), you can check the level yourself. Your engine should be warmed up and your car should be on a level surface and running to do this. If it’s low, top it off, but do not overfill it. If you don’t have a dipstick and your transmission has slipped or you’re experiencing other transmission-related issues (burning smell, grinding noises, hesitation to shift etc.), take your vehicle to a professional technician.

Like engine oil, your vehicle has recommendations for how often to replace the transmission fluid. With each mile you drive, your transmission fluid works to keep your transmission cool and clean, and it can start to get gunky or become debris-filled when you approach the recommended time frame for replacement.

You might also have a transmission fluid leak. Transmission fluid is a distinct red color. If you find fluid under your vehicle, you may have a bad gasket or connection somewhere. It’s best to take it to a professional to get it addressed. Do not attempt to drive your car if it has a significant transmission fluid leak, as severe damage could result.

TRANSMISSION BANDS

In automatic transmissions, bands are what hold and link the gears together. Just like anything else in your engine, over time, transmission bands can wear down or even break. If your transmission bands are in rough shape, you’ll notice that your vehicle can’t shift properly.

WORN OUT GEARS

Your vehicle’s gears take a beating and are designed with that in mind. They are built to last a long time, but they do wear out in older vehicles due to high mileage, excessive heat, or from low transmission fluid. If this is the case in your vehicle, you’ll notice a rough transition or grinding noises when you switch gears.

CLUTCH PROBLEMS

We usually think of clutches when talking about manual transmissions, but automatic transmissions have a clutch system, too. Clutch packs consist of multiple plates sandwiched together. Again, if fluid levels are not maintained, these plates can wear out.

MALFUNCTIONING SOLENOID

Your transmission’s solenoid is responsible for regulating the amount of fluid circulating in the transmission — it pushes fluid into the valve body to engage the proper gear. Suspect the solenoid if you’re experiencing transmission problems and don’t have a leak.

HOW TRANS TUNE TACKLES TRANSMISSION SLIPS

Many automatic transmission problems, especially in high mileage vehicles, are caused by sticky varnish residues that form in transmission fluid over time.

Changing your fluid at manufacturer-prescribed intervals is important, but even that might not eliminate the buildup of deposits that can diminish performance.

An easy and effective way to diagnose or minimize transmission shifting problems is to use Sea Foam Trans Tune. Trans Tune helps fluid systems work smoothly and last longer, restores shift quality, cleans solenoids, and dissolves varnish residue and deposits. It’s compatible with all conventional and synthetic petroleum and mineral-based automatic transmission fluids.

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WATCH customer stories

QUALITY OF PRODUCT

THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ARE CRISP AND PRECISE

““I have a 2002 Dodge Durango 4WD with a 4.7L engine. Recently the transmission seemed to be sluggish after the car was driven and got warm. I used a can of the Sea Foam Trans Tune in the transmission and after a day or so of driving it the transmission shifts are crisp and precise. It really straightened out my tranny.””

★★★★★

TDW192 / DODGE DURANGO / DO-IT-YOURSELFER IN NORTH CAROLINA

EFFECTIVENESS

AWESOME PRODUCT

“Slipping and hard shifts gone after used. Always use when servicing trans.”

★★★★★

MT AUTO / VEHICLE ENTHUSIAST IN NEBRASKA

EFFECTIVENESS

1979 CHEV SILVERADO

“My Brother called me and said his transmission was slipping well, I’m not a Mechanic I’m a Body man after test driving his truck yes he’s right so I went to the local auto parts store and picked up Transmission fluid and filter and Sea Foam Trans Tune, I changed it out for him and test drove it taking it easy, I told him not to get on it for a few days then drive it as usual, after a week he dropped buy and told me it’s like new, Thanks Sea Foam I hate pulling Transmissions out of 4X4’s.”

★★★★★

Dougie / 1979 CHEVROLET SILVERADO / VEHICLE ENTHUSIAST IN WISCONSIN

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