SymptomsCUTLER BAYFL MV52365
What your transmission is trying to tell you
Most transmission problems announce themselves before they fail. Here is what each symptom usually means, what causes it, and what to do about it, from the shop that will be looking at it. If yours is not on the list, call and describe it.
- 01
Slipping
- What it feels like
- The engine revs but the car does not pull, or RPM flares between gears.
- Common causes
- Worn clutch packs, low or burnt fluid, a hydraulic circuit not holding pressure, a failing converter clutch.
- What to do
- Stop driving it hard. Slipping burns clutch material with every mile; a diagnosis tells you whether it is fluid, a repair or a rebuild.
- 02
Shudder at speed
- What it feels like
- A vibration at steady highway speed, like driving over rumble strips, that comes and goes.
- Common causes
- Torque converter lock-up clutch, degraded fluid, sometimes a solenoid.
- What to do
- Have the fluid and converter checked. Caught early it is often a converter and fluid job, not a rebuild.
- 03
Hard or delayed shifts
- What it feels like
- A clunk into gear, a long pause before Drive engages, or shifts that bang.
- Common causes
- Pressure control, solenoids, a sticking valve body, low fluid, or engine mounts.
- What to do
- Bring it in for a diagnosis. Many of these are repairs rather than rebuilds.
- 04
No reverse
- What it feels like
- Drive works, Reverse does nothing or slips badly.
- Common causes
- The reverse clutch or band has failed, or a hydraulic circuit feeding it.
- What to do
- This is internal. Do not keep trying; have it towed or driven gently straight to the shop.
- 05
Leaking fluid
- What it feels like
- Red or brown drips under the car; the level keeps falling.
- Common causes
- Pan gasket, axle or output seals, cooler lines, the front pump seal.
- What to do
- Keep the level topped up until it is fixed. Low fluid is how a small leak becomes a rebuild.
- 06
Whine or hum
- What it feels like
- A tone that rises with road speed or with engine speed in gear.
- Common causes
- Pump, bearings, planetary wear, or a differential rather than the transmission.
- What to do
- A road test tells us which. Do not ignore a whine that is getting louder.
- 07
Burnt smell or dark fluid
- What it feels like
- Fluid on the dipstick is brown or black and smells burnt.
- Common causes
- Overheated fluid, worn clutches shedding material.
- What to do
- Have it inspected before a fluid service; burnt fluid usually means damage already done.
- 08
Warning light
- What it feels like
- Check-engine light with a transmission code on the scan.
- Common causes
- Anything from a sensor to a solenoid to internal slip detected by the computer.
- What to do
- Get the code read and road-tested. A code names a circuit, not a part.
FAQ
Questions we get asked
Can I still drive with a slipping transmission?
You can, and every mile makes the repair more expensive. Slipping burns clutch material into the fluid, which then damages everything else. If it slips, get it looked at now.
Can a slipping transmission be repaired?
Sometimes. If the cause is low fluid, a solenoid or a converter clutch, it is a repair. If the clutch packs are worn, it is a rebuild. The diagnosis is what tells the difference.
What color should transmission fluid be?
Red and clear on most automatics. Brown means worn; black or burnt-smelling with material in it means internal damage.
Is transmission shudder dangerous?
Not immediately, but it points to a converter or fluid problem that gets worse. Have it diagnosed before it turns into a rebuild.
Related
Bring it in. We will tell you what it is.
Open until 8 PM Monday to Saturday at 10715 SW 190th St, Cutler Bay.