Drivers can see cars lurching forward when starting after a long winter break. The same happens with your transmission system every time the temp drops below freezing.
Indeed, you may get accustomed to transmission slips when cold during those first few days in December and January.
The reason is that synthetic engine oil has a higher oil viscosity (thickness) index and tends to thicken at low temps.
And when your transmission has thicker engine oil, it tends to slip and causes transmission jerks when cold.
This post will unveil why this happens, what you can do about it, and how to prevent potential risks from happening again.
Car Transmission Slips When Cold – How To Know?
The symptoms of transmission slipping when cold are pretty obvious.
It’s when you have difficulties in shifting or overdriving, the transmission components contract and cause noise, or the fluid gets thicker.
In more severe cases that water sneaks into the fluid, it will wreak havoc on the transmission system.
See some sure signs of automatic transmission slips when cold as below:
Shifting Issues
It is not weird when you notice your automatic gear shift is hard to move, and the shift points are postponed when cold.
These hard shifts put more pressure on the numerous parts, running the risk of failure later. Noticeable engine noise can emerge accordingly.
Component Contraction
Transmission components will contract in colder weather, making these parts loosen, faster leaks, and wear. As a result, during winter days, the transmission slips may cause noticeable engine noise.
Viscosity Change
The car’s transmission fluid’s viscosity will get thicker in the cold weather. The fluid level stays best at 175 degrees, yet it will be denser at below zero degrees.
It thus can not lubricate the internal parts, causing the wearing transmissions. To this end, a less-viscous synthetic fluid will be a game-changer.
Delayed Overdrive
Does cold weather affect transmission? Yes. Low temperatures impede the transmission computer from using overdrive. It only ends at the appropriate temperature.
The driving comfort will get low, alongside other malfunction risks, such as damaging the forward gears and lack of OD.
Water
It’s a nightmare if the transmission gets wet. Indeed, cold weather plus water makes you break the bank due to the repair bill for your transmission troubles.
Freeze water will expand with the terrific damage to the transmission and valve body due to multiple cracks.
In this case, the optimal option is to replace your fluid. Remember to check whether the transmission slips after the fluid change or not.
If the situation remains, bring your car to a reliable auto shop at once.
How To Take Care Of My Cold Transmission?
It’s time to go for ways best to take care of your car’s cold transmission:
Track The Seals
Cold conditions often toll some regions of the car’s transmission issues, causing leaks. Extra grit, moisture, and grease easily infiltrate the car’s undercarriage while the road gets wet from ice and rain.
As a result, it yeilds more wear on the transmission seals, gaskets, and seals. Any wearing sign on your seals indicates the damage from the harsh conditions. Alter or fix them as soon as possible!
Slow Down
Harsh weather is a primary reason for slow velocity.
Before getting severe damage, your auto transmissions operate slower than usual at the dropping temperatures.
At this time, you might as well give the system more time to change gears and ease up on the accelerator. It’s also essential to keep you safe.
Warm Up Your Vehicle Before Driving
Harsh conditions with an extreme cold deter well-performance engine and transmission. No matter how top-notch your car is, no vehicles adore low temperatures.
Hence, give your car a long time to warm up before driving off.
Park The Vehicle In The Garage
Besides warming your car, be mindful of parking it inside the garage or in a warm parking slot.
Indeed, the temperature here is much warmer than outside, protecting your car from bitterly freezing weather. Your worries about loose seals or leaks are thus mitigated.
Change Transmission Fluid
Antifreeze and transmission fluids turn into a thick form in cold weather. Once it happens, the system can not work functionally and productively, making the whole car move trickily.
After that, they may tear seals or entail other hassles. It’s time to have a transmission fluid change.
Be wise to go for a lighter-weight fluid that might help to lubricate better! Then, start your car and warm up for roughly 15 minutes.
Track Your Tire Pressure
The tires get deflated easier under low temps, turning to uneven wear and alleviating their shelf-life or even causing a blowout while driving.
Checking your tire pressure frequently can help spot issues on time and confront related matters.
Renew The Battery
Cars waste more engine power with trans slips in cold temps. That’s why the cold cranking amps are born.
The old batteries, about 3 or 4 years old, need replacing new ones. A malfunctioning battery might make your car electrical shut off when driving.
What’s more, checking their capacity is perfect to decide when for a replacement.
A new battery does a great job in ensuring you will not be stuck somewhere.
How Can I Fix My Car’s Automatic Transmission Slipping Problem?
The quickest way to overcome this hassle is to replace the old transmission with a new system.
Nonetheless, it may cost a fortune, so many go for other measures: having it flushed or rebuilt.
No matter what solutions you pick, it’s vital that the problem is tackled and your vehicle runs normally.
On top of that, tracking and taking care of your engine can minimize the damage as much as possible.
How Long Will A Slipping Transmission Last?
Quick answers: it depends on how well you take care of the vehicle and the issue’s severity.
Under the best maintenance, your transmission may last many years.
Regarding the hefty damages, the transmission may need an alternative or repair as soon as possible. Try to resolve the problems utterly to help your transmission stay longer than it should be.
Most importantly, check whether your transmission has ended its extended warranty. If yet, bring it back to its transmission shop for welfare.
Is It Pricy To Fix A Slipping Transmission?
There is no concise answer for the slip-transmission price due to many factors: the time, brands, location, and severity.
In this day and age, a fluid replacement may take roughly $200, as long as your transmission is flushed.
Towards more complicated cases, your transmission needs rebuilding or substituting with a price up to $2000, perhaps.
As stated, the expenses may fluctuate based on the region, brands, and time. For instance, the repair price in the next quarter might be slightly higher than the current price.
Before fixing, it’s better to shop around and refer to some experts for the best deals.
How Often Should I Have My Transmission Serviced?
After every 30,000 miles or so, you should have it serviced. Accordingly, your gears can stay lubricated and clean.
Still, any uncommon signs emerging with your transmission acquire you to meet a mechanic.
Your car needs a more frequent care schedule in other unpleasant conditions such as stop-and-go traffic and harsh weather.
In A Nutshell
When it’s cold outside, your car’s transmission works harder than usual to start and keep its gears going smoothly.
This added strain can cause the transmission slips when cold – or not shift – when you press the gas pedal.
When this happens, your transmission troubles are said to be slipping. However, it’s not a serious case; what we just revealed above is pivotal to treating your vehicles better.
Notably, it makes sense to all novices, no doubt. Going for a qualified transmission fluid also saves your engine power remarkably.
Do not forget to share such an informative and epic post with others.