Automatic Gearbox & Clutches

Daveyboy

Daveyboy

Daveyboy

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How can you tell if the clutch is slipping on an automatic gearbox?

I'm only used to manuals, and obviously know that you can feel it yourself as you have control of the clutch, but I now own an auto and think it may not be grabbing as much as it should

Cheers

Dave
 
autobox doesn't have a clutch, it has a torque convertor instead unless it is a CVT version then it has a system of belts and pulleys.
My Xedos 6 auto definately doesn't have a clutch ;)

Rob H
 
Cheers supertigers! So can these have the same issues similar to a slipping clutch? i.e. feels like it's not pulling as much/accelrating as well as it did 3 months ago

R124/LA420 it's a Chevy Blazer S-10 Tahoe 4x4
 
Daveyboy said:
Cheers supertigers! So can these have the same issues similar to a slipping clutch? i.e. feels like it's not pulling as much/accelrating as well as it did 3 months ago

R124/LA420 it's a Chevy Blazer S-10 Tahoe 4x4
Click to expand...


check the level of the auto transmission fluid.
there is normally a procedure for doing this. it is often along the lines of,

start the car, let it idle for 5 minutes.
then with your foot on the brakes, cycle slowly though all the gears in the autobox a couple of times, then put it back in park.
now check the level of the fluid with the transmission dipstick. remember to wipe it and check the level again.

also make sure the fluid is a pinkish colour. light brown means it needs changing, dark brown with black bits in it means you have a knackered auto box
 
Daveyboy said:
Cheers supertigers! So can these have the same issues similar to a slipping clutch? i.e. feels like it's not pulling as much/accelrating as well as it did 3 months ago

R124/LA420 it's a Chevy Blazer S-10 Tahoe 4x4
Click to expand...

I don't know much about Chevy's alas! That said, auto's are auto's to a degree.

I assume your not used to these auto thingys then?

For example, revs will rise as you drive the car, and then, can fall off again, without a gear change.

Whilst I'm no expert on this, I assume its to do with the torque converter.

Its akin to clutch slip, but, without the slip!

some simple checks.

The ATF fluid should be red & clear and - most importantly - of the correct grade & level.

Changes should be smooth, without any noticable jolt as the box changes.

Juddering through the driveline (akin to driving over a cattle grid) is not a good sign!

Should the box need looking at, make sure whoever looks at it is a member of
The Federation of Automatic Transmission Engineers. Tel: 01244 537070. ;)
 
Thanks guys. Well the changes are smooth and not jolty. It does occasionally select the wrong gear, but I think older auto boxes are not as good as the most modern. There are no noticeable rev changes like a sliiping manual box gives with a clutch, so hopefully this is not a problem with the torque converter.

I'm off outside now to check my fluid levels, thanks for the advice Zuma, I will follow your steps.

Much appreciated guys! Lets just hope I don't find anything untoward :eek:
 
Checked it all out, the fluid is pink and up full.

Perhaps I just need to do a general tune-up, although that should be fun having never worked on a V6!
 
If you google 'how an automatic gearbox works ' you will see that they have a type of clutch or clutches as there seems to be one for each gear which operates by fluid being flung by centrifugal force inside a drum which then locks in the next gear according to the speed of rotation & then connects the next one, dropping the speed then releases the clutches one by one as the fluid drains out. That might be an older version of auto that I just read about & I would think the latest will be more sophisticated LOL
 
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