Hey Guys,

LF feedback, I have quickly used search feature to check on some tranny slip I just experienced yesterday.

My car had the tranny fluid flushed and changed at 77Km which is approx 50K miles, I am now at 123,500km approx 72K miles. I live in BC Canada and we have lots of hilly/mountainous terrain.

Returning home to Vancouver from the Interior of BC and was travelling up a solid 4-6 mile steep mountainous climb at about 70mph when the tranny "burped" slipped & the revs jumped from about 2600rom by about 700-800 then back down then did it a second time. Of course this freaked me out as I am 4 hrs from home in the mountains. So for the rest of the climb/drive I back off to about 55-65mph. I dropped into third during the climb and noticed no issue went back to 4th and continued on. Never occured again on way home and I accelerated in areas that were more level to pass vehicles. Temperatures outside were about 80~ when it occured.

A scan for error code will show notyhing since I never had any engine lights come on so I am just considering flushing & replacing with synthetic plus add some tranny conditioner, of course if anything shows up in the oil when flushing I weill have to look at next step but I doubt that. I am wondering if the tranny torque converter under the load and increased heat just released or if I experienced shearing of the tranny fluid during these 2 episodes?? If the dealer is telling me the fluid should be good for roughly 45K miles I am thinking that with the type of terrain I drive in viscosity may be affected alot quicker leading to shearing and breakdown possibly causing the slip

Driving history on the car is very mild since it is my wifes .

A quick search tells me it is a common thing in the cold for many owners and the Transgo shift kit solves the issue most of the time. I just wanna make sure mine is not more serious and I take care of it now cause I need to hold onto the vehicle for another year and do not want to see something more serious if I can avoid now.

Thoughts feedback is really appreciated for those that may have experienced the same in warm/hot weather.

 

torque converter unlocking?

 

Thats what I mentioned in OP & was wondering and also suggested by yourself. Today I took it to a transmission shop I know of and trust they pulled the pan, checked the filter it was all fine the fluid was flushed and I changed over to synthetic. If anything there was a hint of smell to the fluid, could that be a sign of a seal issue, guess time will tell.

Right now the tranny is definitely smoother feeling & shifts smoother as well. Will keep eye out for the re-occurrence but they ran a scan code check and nothing all fine.

I am looking to unload the vehicle next March-June to buy a Lexus RX350 just wanna make sure I am aware of any issue before then to take care of it but like you said the torque converter probably unlocked due to heat & pressure. The shop feels it will be fine with the switch to synthetic along with a full flush. Now to get a few other things done soon like plugs and emissions service and rad fluid change, power steering fluid flush/change, then I will be good for a while.