While driving the transmission slips out of gear?

CAMRYSLIPPING

MEMBER
1998 TOYOTA CAMRY
2.2L
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
178,000 MILES

My car starts up fine goes into gear and in about 4 to 5 miles or less slips out of the gear and basically acts like it's a neutral the RPM still go up high, but the gear is not engaging. When you turn off the car and start it again it goes into gear just fine and does the same thing for another 5 or 10 miles. The other day we had white smoke coming out of the car my boyfriend saw it in the rear of the mirror. My boyfriend lifted the hood and checked the gears, and they all went into gear properly. When I shifted the gears from low to second to drive to reverse, my boyfriend drained 2 quarts of transmission fluid and it was dark black and sludgy. Thank you very much.

1 Reply

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,758 POSTS

Hi,

It sounds like you may have a partially plugged transmission filter or the cooler is partially clogged.

How dirty was the fluid? Also, was it low before he removed some? Is there any evidence of a transmission fluid leak?

Let me know that. Also, if the fluid was exceptionally dirty, I would first start by changing the fluid and filter. I attached the only picture I could find of the pan and filter. When this is being done, have the cooler lines disconnected and blow compressed through the cooler in both directions.

Let me know if this helps.

Take care,

Joe

See pic below.

Image (Click to make bigger)