Transmisson Questions?

[ram3736]

I'm usually pretty good with cars, but transmissions are my weak area. Just the other day my transmission began to slip real bad. It's a 1998 Chevy Malibu 3.1L Auto with 68,000 miles. After getting to 50 mph or so the problems went away. The problem fixed itself, only to happen again the very next day only this time the problem didn't correct itself with speed. After the car had set for 3 hours it started and shifted normally. Overdrive had come back after it sat. Could I be low on transmisson fluid or is the transmission messed up? Can the transmission filter be clogged causing the pump to pump air instead of hydraulic fluid? There are no indicator lights coming on. Any suggestions? Could the "shift sensor" be bad or the "converter locker"?

[johnholl]

Originally Posted by ram3736

I'm usually pretty good with cars, but transmissions are my weak area. Just the other day my transmission began to slip real bad. It's a 1998 Chevy Malibu 3.1L Auto with 68,000 miles. After getting to 50 mph or so the problems went away. The problem fixed itself, only to happen again the very next day only this time the problem didn't correct itself with speed. After the car had set for 3 hours it started and shifted normally. Overdrive had come back after it sat. Could I be low on transmisson fluid or is the transmission messed up? Can the transmission filter be clogged causing the pump to pump air instead of hydraulic fluid? There are no indicator lights coming on. Any suggestions? Could the "shift sensor" be bad or the "converter locker"?

Check the fluid.. you have to get under the car and remove a red cap to do this. Hard to believe, but this is the way this was designed.