Engine just revs.

[Mike A]

Hello All,
I am looking for some advice. Sometimes when I'm driving at lower speeds, when I press the gas pedal, my engine just revs. If I slow down to under 5 mph and press the gas again the transmission engages. This does not happen all of the time. Any suggestions on what is causing this? Thus is an automatic transmission.

[thirdmanj]

Hello All,
I am looking for some advice. Sometimes when I'm driving at lower speeds, when I press the gas pedal, my engine just revs. If I slow down to under 5 mph and press the gas again the transmission engages. This does not happen all of the time. Any suggestions on what is causing this?

Auto?

[Mike A]

Yes this is an automatic transmission.

[thirdmanj]

I'm no expert by any means, but my mind typically blames electrical stuff first. That said, it could be the computer that controls the transmission. Have you done anything to it since you've owned the car?

[dmc6960]

Check your tranny fluid. With car running, hot, after cycling through all gears.

[thirdmanj]

Check your tranny fluid. With car running, hot, after cycling through all gears.

Woops. Indeed, that'd be the best place to start looking... (Me and my worst case scenario mind) :screwy:

[Mike A]

Trans fluid is full. I have not done any mods to the car.

[dmc6960]

Trans fluid is full. I have not done any mods to the car.

Just to clarify... Its full - with the engine running, hot, and cycled through all gears?

We've had several people here whom mistakenly thought their fluid level was correct but in reality took the reading from a shut-off car, which is incorrect.

[Ron]

Sounds like the filter may be stopping up. Is the fluid pink and clear (no tiny dark specks)?
You should have the pressure checked., soon -- The damage to the clutches from slippage when it lets go and comes back will put you walking in short order (whole different world than manual clutches).
fyi- a bad governor wouldn't make it "drop to neutral"...

[Mike A]

Yes, I ran it for 2 minutes like the owners manual said, cycled all gears and checked. Also ran it a bit longer and checked again. I will check fluid color tomorrow. The last transmission guild drain was around 04, but it only has about 4000 miles on her since then.

[DMC_PRIME]

This happened to me years ago. But it got worse on me quick..... I drained, cleaned the filter, re-filled then all was good and cruisin.

[David T]

This does sound like a mechanical, not electrical problem. When checking the fluid you should also smell it, look at it, and feel it between your fingers. If it smells burnt, feels gritty, or looks very dark it needs to be changed ASAP. Slipping while driving is deadly to the internals. You can quickly damage the clutch packs. Do not drive on it until you find and fix the reason it is slipping or you will be rebuilding the transmission and that is a big job. Pull the filter, cut it open and clean it. Check the line pressure. If it is still slipping after that you probably have blown a clutch pack.
David Teitelbaum

[Mike A]

Thanks for all of the quick responses. It seems to be a little more involved time wise that I have rigt now. It will have to wait untill this semister is done.

[Ron]

Park it if you can -- There's beating dead horses...but with the symptom(s) here, it can't be stress enough how quickly and easily those clutches will turn to toast, no matter how well you baby it !!!