While driving the transmission slips out of gear?

1998 TOYOTA CAMRY
178,000 MILES • 2.2L • 4 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
Avatar
CAMRYSLIPPING
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
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.
Nov 19, 2023 at 2:35 PM
Advertisement
Avatar
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 110,175 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 enlarge)
Attached Media
Nov 19, 2023 at 9:15 PM