What are the causes of AT transmission slippage?
2 Answers
The causes of AT transmission slippage include the following 3 points: 1. Abnormal wear: The clutch, brake, or one-way clutch itself is severely worn, and the clutch plate gap is too large, causing slippage. 2. Excessive transmission fluid: Adding too much transmission fluid generates a large number of bubbles when violently stirred by the planetary gears during operation, leading to slippage. 3. Low-quality transmission fluid: Using non-specified transmission fluid can accelerate the aging, swelling, or failure of internal transmission seals, resulting in slippage. The symptoms of transmission slippage include the following: 1. Slow start: When starting, pressing the accelerator pedal results in high engine speed, but the vehicle starts slowly. 2. Slow acceleration: During driving, pressing the accelerator deeply results in slow vehicle acceleration. Additionally, when shifting into a certain gear while the vehicle is moving, the engine speed suddenly increases, but the vehicle speed rises slowly.
Having driven for over a decade, automatic transmission slippage is quite frustrating, and there are many possible causes. Transmission fluid is the most critical—low levels or excessive contamination reduce lubrication and cooling efficiency, making clutch plates prone to slippage and roughness. Excessive clutch wear itself leads to weak power transfer, like pushing air. Faulty electronic control modules cause signal chaos, with the computer mismanaging gear shifts. The problem worsens in summer heat as high oil temperatures trigger thermal degradation. During slippage, engine RPM rises without a corresponding speed increase, posing significant risks on highways. I regularly check fluid levels and color, replacing it promptly if abnormalities appear. If issues arise, don’t delay—visit a reputable repair shop immediately for a full drivetrain inspection, or repairs will only get costlier.
