You may be able to feel your transmission pop into neutral or feel an unexpected slip in and out of gear while you drive. That’s an indicator that something is wrong and requires immediate attention, or your risk of getting in an accent is much higher. Automatic vehicles are especially vulnerable to the risks transmission slippage can cause. Slipping does not necessarily mean that your transmission is failing, but it may be a sign that maintenance is urgently required.

To understand the potential reasons the slipping may be happening, Alberta Drive-Line has put together a guide for you:

Transmission Fluid Is Low or Leaking

When the transmission fluid is leaking from your automatic vehicle’s transmission, it may be because it does not have the hydraulic pressure it needs. The hydraulic pressure is needed to change gears smoothly. When transmission fluid leaks, it could also be caused by a faulty seal, a pan gasket that’s leaking, the torque converter is cracked or the transmission fluid line has been ruptured.

How Can You Detect a Transmission Fluid Leak?

Transmission fluid leaks are often red, however, it can also be a brownish colour if the fluid needs to be changed.
The leak often occurs around the front or middle of the car in red, slick liquid puddles.

Worn Out Gears

When a transmission becomes old, the gears can wear out simply because of the everyday wear and tear. However, this can also happen because of high mileage or overheating of the transmission caused by the fluid levels being consistently low. If the gears are changing with tension and make a grinding sound, this may be a sign that the gears are worn out and your vehicle requires entirely new transmission.

Torque Converter Issue

The torque converter in your vehicle uses hydraulic power under pressure to be able to transfer engine power to the transmission. When the torque converter becomes damaged or fails completely, the transmission does not have a sufficient amount of pressure buildup to be able to switch or engage gears. If your vehicle is slipping out of the overdrive or the engine is stalling quite frequently, it could be indicative of a damaged torque converter.

A Bad Clutch

For a manual transmission, the likely culprit for the transmission slipping is the clutch. This is especially the case if the car has high mileage, then the transmission’s gears cannot fully engage the shift and clutch. The result is friction material which separates the transmission from the vehicle’s engine during a gear change that has become worn thin.

For all of your transmission repair needs, Alberta Drive-Line Rebuilders Ltd. has you covered. We’ve been in the transmission repair industry for over 40 years providing drive shafts repairs, transfer cases and transmission rebuilds in Edmonton. Our team of professionals ensure your transmission repairs will run smoothly to get you back on the road in no time. Call us today for a free estimate or consultation on your transmission service today!