Slipping Tranny Or Torque Convertor

Like the topic says, I think my torque convertor or something in the transmission is slipping, and it's gotten a lot worse recently. The symptoms are intermittent; sometimes I can drive the car without any problems, sometimes the problem arises briefly and then disappears, and (just once so far) sometimes the problem occurs the entire time I drive and doesnt go away.

The one time when the 'problem in question' was at its worst, the symptoms were: when giving it gas, the engine felt like it was struggling to rev, and you could hear and feel the harsh vibrations as it struggled through the RPMs.

I know it's sort of vague but does anybody else have any input into this? I'm calling the dealer this week but I think they might only be open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week

Sorry about the double thread, the forums are being homo-gay right now.

Please use this one to reply.

[-Alero-]

hmmmmm im no pro so you dont have to listen to me, take it to a GM shop and possibly get your transmission fluid flushed and replaced.

[Oldsman]

normally when the tranny is slipping the way to easy tell is when you push the accelator down the motor revs ups but car is either going no where or going a lot slowers than what it should be for the R's.

Also when the car shifts, it rpm's go up and it seems that it takes for ever for it to get into gear.

if you have ever drove a stick, think of it has when you pull out you ride the poop out of the clutch for a long period and also in between shifts.


first i would have the fluid and filter changed and check for metal particules. if it still acts up take it to a shop and have them check it out. i don't think your torque convertor would be going out but you never know. depends on how you drive the car and the quality of your particular convertor.

Metal fragments would be the signs of catostrophic trans failure, ie hard parts coming appart, gears housings and what not. A small amount of metal shavings is acceptable, that is normal were. Large chunks are not. Also expect some clutch matterial debries in the pan, same applies, some silt is fine, however large chunks of paper is bad.

Also one more thing to not, and you did not mentions is at what temperature is the happening and if it is after a long soak in the cold. If this is the only time this is occuring, then what is going on is the TCC Torque Converter Clutch is not active till the transmission fuild reaches a certain temperature, in this case the clutch in the Torque converver will not apply and you get more slip accross the converter than when the TCC would be functioning.

Let us know.

[Wildman]

I have seen power loss issues from a clogged cat before......how many miles?

It's not a power loss issue, the engine runs smooth in neutral even when it's acting up. And as far as WHEN it acts up, I havn't been able to notice any particular time when it acts up. At first I thought it was because of the cold, because it would do it in the winter and then seemingly stopped in the summer. But it has been doing it now for over a year, but only perhaps once every couple of weeks, and only for a few minutes and then it would stop. But it has definately been doing it more often lately, and not just because of the cold, the day it was acting up, I had been driving it all day and the engine and tranny were fully up to operating temperature, so coldness wasnt a factor.

Thanks for the replies gentlemen, the dealership is closed today unfortunately and I work all week so it might have to wait until the new year until I can find out what's going on, hopefully my baby can tough it out until then :P

[Fast Eddie]

I've seen this problem occur when the tranny fluid started running low. Its easy to check this so take a look.