My transmission is slipping. If I replaced it while that solve my problem? asked by Jose V on July 02, 2017 I have a automatic

ANSWER : Hi Jose: Thanks for your question. Below is some additional information in addition to that sent to you by John yesterday. Installing used parts, particularly a part as complex as a transmission, is not the best practice. If you have a transmission fault, the first thing to do is get the cause of the fault professionally diagnosed because some transmission faults are easy to fix, such as low fluid level, replacement of burnt fluid, or needed fixes on engine controls or wiring (transmissions are electronically controlled). YourMechanic offers that service as a transmission diagnostic and you can schedule that at your convenience.

After you know, for sure, what is wrong with the transmission then a decision can be made as to the most economic and effective repair strategy. That is, if the fix is not amongst the simple causes of transmission breakdowns, but rather is due to something like a worn out band, or a leaking clutch piston, then the transmission has to be removed, completely overhauled and re-installed, usually with a new torque converter. Without a diagnostic, even installing a new transmission may not resolve your issue if the fault lies in an engine control or electronic control component and this is why you need to first get the problem identified. Hope we can assist you with this.

ANSWER : If the transmission is actually slipping, a replacement with a good unit should do the trick. But transmission problems can be complicated, especially with the current electronically controlled units, and diagnosis should be done by someone with experience in that field. Otherwise you could end up replacing a lot of expensive parts that you don’t need. You can have that done at your convenience by contacting Your Mechanic. They will send a technician to your home or office to check out your transmission problem and let you know what it will take to fix it.

ANSWER : This would depend on what the manufacturer recommends. Many manual transmissions do take automatic transmission fluid. If your transmission has ATF in it, it is very likely that it is supposed to have that in there. If not, it is likely that the transmission would not function properly with the wrong fluid. Many manual transmissions will also take engine oil as a lubricant. The best way to know for sure is to check your owner’s manual or call your local General Motors dealership to inquire.

ANSWER : The PCM and TCM that you presently have are incompatible with a manual transmission. The PCM hardware and some engine controls, particularly relating to idle speed and electronic "dashpot", would be different too. The only way you could reliably do such a swap is if you changed out the vehicle’s electrical system, include the wiring harness to the transmission and engine, and even that wouldn’t be a guarantee of success if your vehicle also has a body control module (i.e., that would have to be changed out as well). Your only practical option is to have the existing transmission re-built or install a re-manufactured one. Even going that route, you have to be extremely careful and vigilant that you get an EXACT replacement, in every respect, because even minor year to year differences in electronic controls could render the unit unusable. In some locales, certified Mechanics from YourMechanic will perform engine and transmission replacements, so please inquire if you simply want to repair what you have. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

ANSWER : Hi there. As long as the engines in the two Toyota’s are identical in size and configuration, the compatibility of the two transmissions should work, however there are some risks with swapping out a transmission on an older vehicle like your 88 Corolla. The correct way to complete this service is also installing new drive axles and supporting hardware within the driveline. However, the head gasket repair is often a trap, as the reason most head gaskets fail is due to an overheating issue, which typically damaged the cylinder head itself, internal components like pistons, connecting rods and more. If finding a newer car is not in the cards as the moment, the best investment would be the transmission swap.

ANSWER : If this is a new or rebuilt transmission, and external controls (throttle position sensor, solenoids, TCM, harness, etc.) have ALL been diagnosed and tested, the transmission is likely defective and should just simply be returned to the vendor, again though ONLY once all "external possibilities" are ruled out. If you bought the unit from a vendor, they do have a technical support staff to handle basic inquiries. If you installed a used transmission, it is even more likely it is just simply defective. Transmissions rebuilding is frankly easy BUT it requires an incredible amount of caution, measurement and care in assembly. So, it is VERY time consuming, especially when you add in the research that’s necessary to procure internal parts whose DESIGN has changed. Typically, what will happen is the unit just gets thrown together, to save TIME, and then problems are predictable. To determine, one way or another, if the problem is external or internal, you can schedule a shift diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will run tests, in particular looking at gauge hydraulic pressures in reverse, to see if the problem is internal or external. You can do that yourself, too. If it is not running in reverse, check hydraulic pressure on that circuit. If the pressure turns out to be wrong, that will conclude the diagnostic right there as pressure is "typically" only off if there’s an internal fault. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

ANSWER : Most vehicles have an internal transmission filter that can be changed by removing the transmission pan. Some diesel trucks will have an external filter that can be changed just like an oil filter. The transmission filter is usually recommended to be replaced either when the transmission fluid is replaced or around 100,000 miles depending on the manufacturer’s recommendation.

As for which fluid to use, I would recommend looking in you owners manual. Your owners manual will list all fluid specifications that are required for your vehicle including capacity and type. I would always recommend using what the manufacturer recommends for the vehicle.

If you’d like to have your transmission fluid and filter serviced, consider YourMechanic, as one of our mobile technicians can come to your home or office to do so.

ANSWER : Hello. From what you describe, it would appear that your transmission is beginning to slip. This can be caused by many things. The first thing I would do is check the vehicle’s transmission. Automatic transmission use fluid pressure to operate, and will have all sorts of issues if the fluid is low or dirty. If the fluid checks out, I would then move on to looking at the transmission itself. It may be possible that one of the components, such as a sensor or solenoid may be going out and causing your issue. It may also be possible that the transmission is simply worn out and can no longer hold the engine torque, perhaps due to a worn clutch pack, valve body, or torque converter. In these cases of removal and overhaul of the transmission is required. You may be able to continue driving the vehicle, however, because it may cause the symptoms to worsen over time if the issue is not quickly addressed.