What is the situation when the car's RPM goes up but the speed does not increase?
2 Answers
There are two situations when the car's RPM is high but the speed does not increase: 1. Manual transmission: If the vehicle has a manual transmission, check whether the gear is in a low gear. If it is in a low gear, you need to shift up to increase the speed. If the speed still does not increase after shifting to a higher gear, smell whether there is a burning odor from the car. If there is, it is likely that the clutch plate is too thin, causing slipping. In this case, the transmission needs to be removed, and components such as the clutch pressure plate, clutch plate, release bearing, and shift fork need to be replaced to solve the problem. 2. Automatic transmission: If the vehicle has an automatic transmission, confirm whether the transmission gear is in the S position. If it is in the S position, shift to the D position and try again. If the problem persists, it is also likely that there is an internal fault in the transmission, causing the transmission gear to be stuck in the 3rd gear. In this case, the transmission needs to be inspected or repaired and replaced.
I encountered this issue last time when driving an old manual transmission car. When starting off, pressing the accelerator made the RPM soar while the speed increased sluggishly. Later, a checkup revealed the clutch plates were worn smooth—just like a bicycle chain slipping. In manual cars, if power delivery lags after shifting gears, it's 90% a clutch problem. For automatics, it could be overdue transmission fluid changes causing insufficient lubrication and torque converter slippage. Another easily overlooked culprit is a clogged catalytic converter—restricted exhaust flow makes the engine struggle. My neighbor's car recently had exhaust pipes clogged like stuffed with mud—flooring the accelerator did nothing. In such cases, never force the throttle; pull over immediately for inspection. Engine damage is no joke.
