What are the symptoms of a slipping 6AT transmission?
4 Answers
6AT transmission slipping symptoms are as follows: Abnormal vehicle starting: When starting, pressing the accelerator pedal results in high engine RPM but slow vehicle movement. Abnormal vehicle acceleration: During driving, pressing the accelerator deeply results in slow speed increase; when going uphill, the engine RPM is high but the vehicle moves slowly. Abnormal engine RPM: When shifting into a certain gear while driving, the engine RPM suddenly increases but the vehicle speed rises slowly. Solutions for transmission slipping: When slipping occurs, stop the vehicle and check if the transmission fluid is at the proper level. Both too high or too low fluid levels will affect automatic transmission operation. Too high level will cause the transmission to produce excessive oil-air mixture during operation; too low level may cause the fluid to occasionally separate from the oil pump inlet, resulting in pump cavitation and loss of oil pressure. If the slipping disappears after adjusting the fluid level, there's no need to disassemble and repair the automatic transmission, and the vehicle can continue to be driven.
I've been driving for over twenty years and have encountered transmission slippage several times, with quite obvious symptoms: when you press the accelerator to speed up, the engine RPM suddenly surges above 3000, but the vehicle speed hardly changes, as if the car is idling. This is usually more severe when climbing hills or overtaking at high speeds, making the car feel sluggish and unresponsive, and the engine light on the dashboard may even come on. Another common symptom is a jerky or rough feeling when shifting gears, accompanied by slight body vibrations or humming noises, which can be more noticeable during winter startups. Worse yet, if you smell a burning odor during slippage, it could indicate the transmission fluid is overheating. I remember once ignoring this issue, which led to severe internal component wear in the transmission, costing me tens of thousands in repairs. So now, I make it a habit to regularly check the transmission fluid level and replace it immediately if it deteriorates—this is key to preventing slippage. Getting it checked promptly at a professional shop can save you a lot of trouble.
A while ago, I experienced transmission slipping during a countryside drive. While climbing a slope, I pressed the accelerator only to see the tachometer soar while the car crawled forward sluggishly, as if gliding on ice. The engine roared, but the car barely moved. Each gear shift felt delayed by half a second, occasionally accompanied by alarming clunking noises. A friend pointed out these were classic slipping symptoms, especially frequent under heavy load. Left untreated, transmission wear worsens, and repair costs skyrocket—my fix cost just a thousand bucks for a fluid top-up. In daily driving, slipping can compromise safety, like sudden loss of acceleration in heavy traffic, risking rear-end collisions. Learning my lesson, I now check transmission fluid monthly—topping up if it's low or murky. Remember, maintaining proper fluid condition is the best prevention.
I'm a new driver and recently my car has been acting strangely: when I press the accelerator, the engine RPM increases but the speed doesn't go up accordingly. The dashboard shows over 2000 RPM, but the actual speed is only around 40 km/h. A friend said this is a sign of transmission slipping, where gear shifts feel noticeably jerky, as if the car hesitates before moving, and occasionally there are strange noises. When slipping occurs, acceleration feels weak, and even climbing a slope becomes difficult. I looked it up online and found that it might be due to low or deteriorated transmission fluid, so I checked the fluid level myself and indeed it was low. I quickly went to a shop to add new fluid, and the symptoms improved significantly. If anyone encounters a similar situation, don't ignore it. Prolonged slipping can damage parts, and repairs can be very expensive.
