# Car doesn't go uphills **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** s60, volvo\ **Created:** [February 25, 2011, 9:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-doesnt-go-uphills/61861 "2011-02-25T21:23:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pjhoward](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f6c823/32.png) [@pjhoward](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pjhoward)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 9:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-doesnt-go-uphills/61861/1 "2011-02-25T21:23:39Z")
My car has 109000 miles and we live in SD. Recently the car just won’t go uphills - the engine revs up, but the speed doesn’t get above 40-45 miles per hour. Once at the top of the hill, the car just takes off and drives normally until the next hil! What could be the problem. Thanks for the help - we love your show!! ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 9:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-doesnt-go-uphills/61861/2 "2011-02-25T21:26:11Z")
If the car “revs up” and does not go uphill, you have a slipping clutch if it’s manual or you have a transmission destroying itself if automatic. Take it to a good independent transmission shop, and be prepared for at least $3000 in repairs or a new transmission. ---
**Author:** ![pjhoward](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f6c823/32.png) [@pjhoward](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pjhoward)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 9:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-doesnt-go-uphills/61861/3 "2011-02-25T21:54:57Z")
Even though there is no apparent transmission problem when not going up hill? ---
**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 9:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-doesnt-go-uphills/61861/4 "2011-02-25T21:59:00Z")
Yes. Unless the car is bogging down in which case it is an engine problem. Really high revving without associated power either means you’re in too low a gear or that your clutch (manual) or clutches (automatic) are slipping. You could at least tell us if its a manual or an automatic. ---
**Author:** ![pjhoward](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f6c823/32.png) [@pjhoward](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pjhoward)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 10:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-doesnt-go-uphills/61861/5 "2011-02-25T22:04:20Z")
Sorry - thought I had, it’s an automatic ---
**Author:** ![tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@tardis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tardis)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 10:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-doesnt-go-uphills/61861/6 "2011-02-25T22:08:48Z")
Your problem might be that your transmission fluid level is low. If so, you have a leak. ---
**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 10:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-doesnt-go-uphills/61861/7 "2011-02-25T22:14:08Z")
“Your problem might be that your transmission fluid level is low.” I actually thought of mentioning that. But then I figured the initial problem might have been low fluid. If so, now the problem is burned out clutches from scorching it up all of those hills. ---
**Author:** ![tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@tardis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tardis)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 10:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-doesnt-go-uphills/61861/8 "2011-02-25T22:14:36Z")
Agree.