Questions and Answers

Chevy Lumina Transmission Slippage Q. Hi Dear, Recently I'm encountering a problem where sometimes when I come to a complete stop and then when ready to accelerate again the car takes the gas but won't go to gear to move. Two ways I can get it going, one is to keep pressing on accelerator which after a few second and rev the engine it will jump with big kick and go which is dangerous.

The other way is to shift to neutral and back to drive and it works like a charm. This is not happening every time. I checked the fluid. it is not low or burning smell. it is still reddish looking. I looked at the vacuum modulator. Looks like it is okay, not leaking or deteriorated vacuum hose.

I had a mechanic drive it and for the 10 minute he drove it and with many stops, never came to problem I was explaining. He suggested to do partial fluid change, meaning not flush it and change the filter but, removing some of the fluid and add a few quarts.

Please let me know your diagnosis based on what I described. The car has a lot of power and running good. The car has close to 180,000 miles and transmission fluid has been changed once around 110,000 miles. I don't know if the problem I'm describing have called transmission slippage or not.

There is an outfit on the internet selling a product, a bottle of transmission fluid, called "Transmatic Slippage Control" for $29.00, $35.00 with S&H that says "Corrects Low Pressure Slippage malfunction condition". Please advise. My car is a 1992 Chevy Lumina with a 3.1 liter engine.

Masood

A. While it would be nice to just open a bottle and add stuff to fix your problem but I doubt it will work. Without actually driving it myself and feeling the problem, it's hard to guess at the problem. Have you taken it to a transmission specialist and had them drive it?

It kind of sounds like a low pressure problem when you rev it up and it goes. This may be weak seals in the clutches or a worn pump gear. I would let a transmission guy drive it while it's doing it for a better opinion.