Car not driving the way it used to? Your first thought may be wondering what auto repair service you may be due to have done. The best way to help figure out what car repair may be necessary and point your mechanic in the right direction is to pay attention to which symptoms you notice. Transmission slipping can be an early symptom of more serious transmission repairs, though when handled quickly, you may be able to avoid more expensive transmission repairs. Look out for these common signs of transmission slipping and let your mechanic know any symptoms you see, hear, or feel.
Difficulty Shifting Gears
No matter what type of transmission your car has, you may notice it’s harder than usual to shift gears. With a manual transmission, you may notice it first in the lower gears, though it can happen with any gear. If you drive an automatic transmission, you may notice it’s more difficult to shift between Drive and Reverse. Any difficulty shifting gears points a finger at your car’s transmission.
Trouble Reversing is One of the First Signs of Transmission Repair
Whether your car has a manual or automatic transmission, shifting in and out of Reverse can be rough on your transmission. It puts the most stress on your car’s transmission because it involves completely reversing the direction of motion. While this is unavoidable, it means the first sign of transmission trouble show up when shifting into or out of Reverse – and you should be most mindful of your habits when shifting in and out of Reverse to help prevent extra wear on your transmission.
Delays or Hesitation When Accelerating
When you’re picking up speed or cruising down the highway, you shouldn’t feel a sudden hesitation or halt from your car. While it could point to several auto repair needs, one possibility is that your transmission is slipping. No matter what’s causing hesitation while accelerating, it’s likely due to a problem in a key system of your car and should be taken care of by a trusted mechanic.
Your Car’s Transmission Slipping Makes It Difficult to Stay in Gear
A slipping transmission means your car isn’t able to properly stay in gear. This can happen whether you have an automatic or manual transmission, since both types of transmissions use a set of gears to adjust the amount of power and direction of motion necessary. This is why you may notice hesitation while accelerating if your transmission is slipping, because your car may suddenly “slip” into a higher gear or out of gear entirely.
Engine Revving or a High RPM
Pay attention to your car’s RPM and listen out for any unusual noise while driving your car. If you notice your RPM running higher than usual or suddenly spiking, along with a sound like your engine is revving, it can be a sign that your car has slipped into a lower gear. If you’ve ever driven a manual transmission car, you may have accidentally shifted down when you meant to shift up a gear and felt that sudden jerk and rev of the engine. This can feel similar.
A Transmission Slipping into a Lower Gear Can Cause Revving and Extra Wear
Not only is sudden revving or a high RPM a sign you may need a transmission repair, but it also can mean extra wear and strain is being put on both your transmission and engine. In general, the more you rev your engine, the faster parts will wear out, especially if your engine oil isn’t replaced often enough. There are a lot of factors to a healthy transmission and engine, but if you notice this symptom, it’s a good idea to have the underlying cause diagnosed by a trusted mechanic.
Transmission Slipping? Visit Your Local AAMCO Boise
Whenever you’re worried about your car’s transmission, there’s no better place to come than your nearest AAMCO. Our mechanics are all transmission experts, so you can rest assured your car is in good hands when you leave it with us. Whether the cause behind your transmission slipping takes a simple maintenance service or more serious repair to fix, we have you covered. Give us a call with questions or easily schedule your appointment online.