Can I drive safely with a slipping transmission ?

To put it briefly, no you should never drive your vehicle if you believe there to be an issue with your transmission in any case.

Once a transmission starts slipping it needs to immediately be repaired. Every time you drive it after you feel your transmission slip, it is a risk. The more you drive a damaged transmission, the more you will be harming it and other parts of your vehicle. The longer you allow it to slip, the more junk there is circulating through your transmission. If you drive knowing that your transmission is slipping and small pieces of metal shavings start chipping off and getting into your coolant, it will become much more harmful and costly. It could be extremely dangerous for you, your vehicle, and sometimes even to all of the vehicles surrounding you as well. It is recommended to immediately put a pause on operating a vehicle with a slipping transmission. Any possible issues with a transmission should be taken seriously and further inspected by a professional. There are many symptoms that will help you identify if you are experiencing a slip in your transmission.  

Signs of a slipping transmission

One sign that your transmission is slipping is that as you are driving it feels like your vehicle is switching gears when it shouldn’t be.  Strange noises or change in pitch will sometimes go hand in hand with this gear change. If your vehicle switches gears unexpectedly while you are driving it, this could very well end up being a potentially very dangerous situation. The vehicle may be unreliable and start to shake, which is highly hazardous. If your car seems like it is struggling to operate properly or feels suddenly underpowered, you may be dealing with slipping transmission. If you can ever physically feel or hear the shifting in your vehicle, you have a problem. 

If the vehicle does not change gears smoothly, that is another symptom of a slipping transmission. Listen to see if you hear a clunk or thud as the vehicle goes up or down in gears. It passes through different gears, the vehicle may have problems accelerating and reaching the correct speed. 

Another possible sign of a slipping transmission is a delay before the vehicle begins to move. Once you move the park to the drive shift, there might be a long lag until the car starts to move. During this time the engine might rev, but it will not actually move anywhere.

Why is my transmission slipping ?

Other cause of a slipping transmission is a fluid leak. As a vehicle’s owner the main thing you can be doing is make sure you are checking your fluid levels and looking to see if you have any fluid leaks. This fluid is usually a reddish brown color, so you could have a problem with your transmission if you’re noticing these distinctively colored puddles below your car along with the other symptoms mentioned. A low fluid level is one of the most common causes of a slipping transmission. You can use your vehicle’s dipstick to be checking the fluid levels in your transmission. However, topping off your fluid is never a guaranteed fix. 

Signs you might have other transmission issues

Transmission problems are no joke; if none of the mentioned applied to you, but you still believe there to be an issue with your transmission there are plenty of things to keep an eye out for that may help. Here are few things to consider, and if you are experiencing any of the following, have your vehicle inspected immediately. 

Systems that could indicate a failing transmission may include delaying when shifting or failing when attempting to shift, lagging or thumping when shifting. If your engine speeds up when you apply the gas, but the car doesn’t that is a good indicator that something is not right. You should also never see any red, brown, or pink colors below your car. These are concerning signs and warrant a trip to the mechanic as soon as possible. If you need to add transmission fluid irregularly often you could have a leak, which can be harmful to the transmission if not promptly addressed.  Any unusual noises, such as a whining sound when you step on the accelerator, a grinding noise, or a banging noise when you come to a stop should not be happening. If your car fails to move when cold, but improves once it is warmed up, or if your engine is overheating please do not put off getting it looked at. 

If you suspect there is a problem with your transmission such as possible slipping, it is important have it checked out before more any more damage to your vehicle is done. Feel free call us at Eagle Transmission Rowlett location and one of our experienced technicians will be happy to offer you a free, no obligation consultation.