Questions and Answers

Slipping Tracker Q. Hello, my name is Tom. My girlfriend has a 1995 Geo Tracker and we have been having some transmission problems with the vehicle. The problem is that when the engine is cold the vehicle will move but you can't go above 20-25 mph, it's as though the engine is running at a high rpm but the engine won't shift until the engine gets up to temperature.

I have tried changing the transmission filter and the oil but it didn't help. The vehicle has 114,600 miles on it. Could you please give your opinion on what the problem might be. The Tracker has a 4-cylinder engine and is an automatic transmission.

Thank you,
Tom

A. The problem is the transmission is done for, Tom.

Automatic transmissions often slip when they get old, due to the normal deterioration of the bands, clutches, seals, valves, servos and other internal parts. And if you're really lucky, changing the fluid and filter will clean things up enough to fix the problem.

Unfortunately, you're not really lucky. If changing the fluid and filter didn't help, then the problem is the transmission itself. So it's time to decide if you and your girlfriend still love this car. If you do, and if it's in good shape otherwise and isn't rusting away, then either spend a few bucks on a used transmission, or spend few hundred more bucks and get a rebuilt one.