tranny problems, i think

I bought a 1994 chevy Lumina from my sister. Before I bought it, she had a
new engine put in the car 3.1 and after that the transmission works when it wants to. I can only drive it for a bout 1/4 of a mile and it will just stop, like i shifted it into "N". Then if i let the engine cool for a few minutes, the tranny will work only for a bout a minute, then if i shift it into any gear it wont move while i press on the gas pedal. What could be the cause, do i need a new tranny?

Have you checked the trans fluid level? If OK, what is the condition of the fluid; color, odor?

Sounds like the fluid is low, or completely torched, or there is a blockage in the transcooler, tranny pump sick, etc ...

Jeffco's 1st law of vehicle buying:

Never buy from friends or family members...don't sell cars to them either...

only leads to bad feelings/manslaughter..

hey guys, could it be a bad shif solenoid in the tranny? Maybe it overheats when being used, and defaults to "safe mode" when the ecm detects the issue. You say it like neutrals itselff? Or does it just revv really really high and keep moving along. Not all trannys are created equal, some will default to 2nd gear, some 3rd. Which will get the feeling like that a gear is gone completly when all to blam is just a shift solonoid. But being a 1994, its probably a 4t60 not the 4t60e, am i correct so its all vacuum shifted, which in that case you would have to disregard all i just typed. OOPS, maybe i should re-read the origional post before i open my mouth.

hey guys, could it be a bad shif solenoid in the tranny? Maybe it overheats when being used, and defaults to "safe mode" when the ecm detects the issue. You say it like neutrals itselff? Or does it just revv really really high and keep moving along. Not all trannys are created equal, some will default to 2nd gear, some 3rd. Which will get the feeling like that a gear is gone completly when all to blam is just a shift solonoid. But being a 1994, its probably a 4t60 not the 4t60e, am i correct so its all vacuum shifted, which in that case you would have to disregard all i just typed. OOPS, maybe i should re-read the origional post before i open my mouth.

Like said check out that fluid level and condition when hot.
If electrical a good transmission scanner should show the problem or a code.
MT

Well, when this happens the car will just coast along and when i stop it wont move again, I press on the gas pedal and it will only rev up.

your filter is probably plugging if you shut the engine off the fuild drains back taking the junk that it sucked up into the filter with it. Time for a pan pull!

I kind of have somewhat of the same problem. If I drive in overdrive, the trans will work ok until I start to stop and go alot. Then after I hit the gas after stopping or going down to under 10mph, the trans will neutral out. It just sits there and revvs. If i let the RPM's come back down to practically idle, the car will shift into first and I can drive again. When I put the car in regular Drive, it works flawlessly though.