What To Do If Gears Slip In Your Automatic Gearbox

Alex Milta
Milta Technology
2 min readOct 15, 2019

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Automatic vehicles are known for their reliability and longevity. However, there are still some common issues that you may uncover during the lifespan of your car. One of these problems is when the transmission slips or won’t stay in the right gear for any length of time. If your transmission slips, then it is not an issue you can ignore. Read on for how to solve the problem.

Is your transmission slipping?

It may not be easy to spot a slipping transmission at first. However, some of the common signs of gears slipping include;

  • The ‘check engine’ light coming on
  • A lag or delay in acceleration
  • A significantly high RPM such as over 3500.
  • A strange noise or harsh response when you try and change gears
  • A difficulty in reversing
  • A burnt smell.

All of these indicate an issue with the automatic gearbox and should be checked as soon as possible.

Why is your transmission slipping?

There are several reasons which may cause your transmission to slip. Some of these are;

  1. Worn clutch plates

In an automatic vehicle, theclutch plates are in the torque converter and transmission; if there are inadequate levels of transmission fluid, these can become burnt or worn.

  1. Low fluid levels

This is usually the main reason why gears start to slip. It is important to check fluid levels regularly and ensure they do not fall below the minimum. If the levels are low, there is usually not enough hydraulic pressure to engage the gears.

  1. Burnt fluid

If you check the dipstick and the transmission fluid is brown or black, then the fluid is burnt. This can happen through overheating and can significantly damage your vehicle. If this is the case, stop using your car immediately and call a transmission expert in to help.

  1. Solenoid issues

If the solenoid is unable to control the flow of transmission fluid in your gearbox, then this may cause the wrong amount of liquid to be dispersed which could cause gear slippage.

If your vehicle has any of these issues, then make sure to call a transmission expert like Milta Technology as soon as possible, Milta Technology can repair and replace gearboxes to get you back on the road again.

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Alex Milta
Milta Technology

Automatic transmission expert. Nationally renown leader in repair, replacement and innovation.