What Causes Transmission To Slip?

What factors can cause your transmission to slip and how can you avoid this?

What Is Transmission Slipping?

Transmission slipping is not related to the vehicle slipping. If your vehicle is slipping on ice, for example, there’s likely an issue with the anti-lock brake system or your tires. Instead, transmission slipping refers to your transmission simply slipping out of gear. Essentially, this means that the transmission slips out of one gear to another without you shifting it yourself.

This can happen immediately after you switch gears, and it typically slips into neutral. For instance, you may reverse out of your parking spot, shifting into drive, then you notice the transmission slipped back to neutral. This may not be a serious issue, but there are other scenarios that can become safety hazards. It’s strongly recommended to bring your vehicle into the shop once you notice slipping.

What Causes A Transmission To Slip?

Knowing the causes of transmission slipping will help you to avoid them. Keep an eye out for the following issues.

Worn-Out Clutch

Always be mindful of how your clutch feels if you drive a manual transmission. In manual, slipping is often the result of a worn-out clutch. Refrain from misusing or burning out your clutch. Replacing the clutch can often fix the issue if slipping occurs. Worn-out clutch plates, solenoid packs, and transmission bands can also cause the transmission to slip. A technician will most likely replace all these parts to fix the problem.

Transmission Fluid Level

It’s always worthwhile to check your automatic transmission fluid. Slipping can be caused by insufficient transmission fluid levels or the quality of fluid. Check your fluid, as you should do monthly, and top it up if necessary. Test your vehicle afterwards with a slow and measured drive. You should no longer experience any slips or transmission fluid leaks.