# Drive problem

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/drive-problem/15855>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [June 25, 2008, 10:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/drive-problem/15855 "2008-06-25T22:24:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![najensen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecccb3/32.png) [@najensen](https://community.cartalk.com/u/najensen)\
**Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 10:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/drive-problem/15855/1 "2008-06-25T22:24:37Z")

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I have a 1994 Mercury Topaz sedan with the 4-cylinder engine and the Stone Age 3-speed automatic. The transmission is beginning to slip fairly regularly. When I make a left turn however, the car acts kind of like it’s actually slipping into neutral, with no forward drive whatsoever, until it catches again rather violently as you complete the turn. This only occurs on left turns though, not on right turns. On right turns the car acts normally… well normal for this car anyway. This is a front wheel drive car. What could be causing this problem and how expensive might it be to fix(i.e. would it even be worth it)?

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**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\
**Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 10:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/drive-problem/15855/2 "2008-06-25T22:36:04Z")

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Might be ( might be ) the c/v joints. Needs checked up on a hoist.

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**Author:** ![Beadsandbeads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@Beadsandbeads](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Beadsandbeads)\
**Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 11:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/drive-problem/15855/3 "2008-06-25T23:42:07Z")

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Is the fluid level up to where it should be? YOu can see behavior like this if the fluid is low and what is left sloshes away from the pump intake.

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**Author:** ![JayWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@JayWB](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JayWB)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 12:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/drive-problem/15855/4 "2008-06-26T00:48:21Z")

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Not CV joints. Does sound like the fluid is pretty low though. Have you checked it, by any chance?

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**Author:** ![najensen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecccb3/32.png) [@najensen](https://community.cartalk.com/u/najensen)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2008, 8:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/drive-problem/15855/5 "2008-06-28T20:56:19Z")

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I’ve added transmission fluid and it does seem to be doing better. Thanks for the help guys.