After the latest “floor the pedal to save yourself from a rear end” stint
(new Ontario traffic lights = fail), I’m noticing erratic responses in my automatic transmission.
It would shift in odd places, low end torque is lowered (drives fine in the highway though), and powering through a right turn will cause the transmission to slip.
No blinking S3-S4 light yet, fortunately.
I want to keep it that way though, at least for 3 more years, when I have the funds, and when I find a reputable shop who won’t cut corners when replacing a transmission (or torque converter, or an engine).
I always change the fluid a bit before manufacture specs, (including recently).
So how do I drive to conserve my transmission?
No hard braking and accelerating (especially at the same time non simultaneously- stop signs or right turns).
Go easy on the brakes (coast to a stop)
Easy on the acceleration (ride on the slow track of the highway/roadways)
When approaching a right turn, brake first, then coast the right turn, accelerating in the middle of the turn before the gears change)
There is no way on telling if the transmission will last for three years or less. You might just have a bad solenoid are low fluid so id check them first. Driving the car the way it is can and will lead to bigger problems,so i recommend not driving it tell you fix it.
Well, upon doing some research, I found a few tips that can help prolong the life of the transmission. Hope this helps.
When you park, instead of just slapping the gear shifter to park, (or pressing on the brakes really hard, using the e-brake and then slapping into park and releasing), put the car in neutral, press on the brakes, apply the e-brakes, and then put it on park.
If your trip is strictly city (0-60km/h), consider driving in S3 instead of D. You may waste a bit more gas, due to higher engine rev at 60, but its minimal, considering the number of times you have to stop in the city. However, it does help out the transmission- in that it doesn’t have to shift to the 4th gear, and then back to 1st when you have to stop. (honestly, the time spent on 4th gear is minimal when driving in the city- and the extra rev in S3 is only about 500RPMs)