2000 Malibu 75,000 Issue

[igbe]

I have been very lucky I guess with this car, VS other stories I read almost daily here. The only issues I have had with my car have been a cooling system issue, that cost about $794.00 to fix.

With that said, I am extremely worried I have a major problem on my hands, the transmission. First its hard to pin down the issue because it does not happen all the time. When it does happen though it is on hills or inclines and usually between 25-40 MPH. The car feels like its going to die, and I hope its not transmission slipping away. I did look down at the rpm gauge and it would go from 1500 - 2500 up and down, then the problem just stops. It happened to me again today coming to work. When getting on the freeway ramp that goes uphill, but did not notice any issues on the freeway, or off the freeway. If it is the tranny what am I looking at as far as repair cost? If you don't think its the tranny, what the heck could it be? I am really hoping this is not a major repair.

[igbe]

I should note one other issue. The gas gauge only goes from full to 1/2 right about when the issue seamed to start to happen it went from full (just got gas) to empty and I got the warning sounds, then went away. Maybe a different issue, maybe they are related.

Thanks!

[ralayton]

The issue about the gas gage going from full to 1/2 sounds like the level sensor on the fuel pump. I had a bad spot on mine that did the same thing intermittenly. Also about the car feeling like it's going to die. Mine did the same thing an eventually did die. Then I had the fuel pump replaced. It's was so intermittent no one could find the problem.