98 Lumina Troubles

[mish6976]

I have a 1998 Lumina 3.1 V6 with 78,000 miles on it. It just started in the last week have what seems to be tranny problems. I have trouble going from a dead stop. It revs up really far, and I almost have to floor it to go up to speed with the other cars when I am at a stop. After I get going, it continues to rev up until I let the gas go, and then it shifts. Once I get going after it does that, it is fine.

I had tranny service done, changed fluid and filter less than 300 miles ago. It is still full, no color change and no bits in the fluid.

I have moved from Florida to Connecticut recently. I let it warm up fully before I drive it, and I do not make short trips with it (to the store and back kind of stuff).

I have had a Pontiac before that that had a tranny problem, so I am leaning towards this.

Any ideas of anything else it could be, or am I on the right track.

Thanks for your help!

[jeffcoslacker]

You need to check the vacuum line to the modulator on the tranny. See if it's leaking. If not, pull it off at the modulator. If fluid comes out of the line, the modulator is blown.

[cadgear]

Have you ever had the transaxle serviced before now? If not, the detergents in the fluid wear out over time, and crud builds up around the seals. IF those seals are bad, and the new fluid breaks down the crud, then some seals could leak, causing an array of problems.

[mish6976]

Tried the modulator thing, no fluid leaking.

I had the tranny serviced under what Chevy requires, so maintenance is up to date, and was doen when required.

The way it feels is like a stick, where it revs up, and you have to manually shift to next gear. You have to lett off the gas several times in order to get it to catch. Once it catches, it is fine.

I have suggestions of tranny pump, linkage and shifting mechanism in the tranny.

[jeffcoslacker]

Yeah, that behavior is typical for a bad maodulator, that's why I mentioned it first. But if not, there is trouble with the valve body, accumulator, clutch pack, etc, that will need pro help.

[jeffcoslacker]

Didja make sure the vacuum line is secure and not sucking air at either end? Sometimes they start coming off up on the motor end.