basic auto mechanic question for you guys (i'm ignorant with auto mechanics)

[irish2003]

04 chevy malibu...176k...bough a year ago from a good friend who babied it at 159k...

anyway last night it started having trouble getting into top gear on interstate and sometimes would get into around 5,000rpm and sometimes not at all...not sure when spark plugs were changed last...all he said is he knows it was over 100k last time...i'm hoping that's all it is...it seemed to start acting up in rush hour yesterday and also when the a/c was on while in rush hour

also a couple weeks ago had full service oil change and fluids topped off so i don't think it's trans fluid issue

 

[bigdaddyo1617]

It could be a couple of things the best thing to do is get it check out

 

[irish2003]

It could be a couple of things the best thing to do is get it check out

we're gonna check the plugs on sunday at my parents since stepdad has tools and i don't...if that doesn't help then i'll have it checked during the week when i have more money to do it and get fixed right away if needed

 

[The Dude]

That sounds pretty clearly like the tranny. I would think the clutch packs are smoked


The Dude Approved

 

[irish2003]

That sounds pretty clearly like the tranny. I would think the clutch packs are smoked


The Dude Approved

that will hurt if it's that...i currently work 45 miles away and can't afford to take a day off or spend more than a couple hundred...

 

[The Dude]

that will hurt if it's that...i currently work 45 miles away and can't afford to take a day off or spend more than a couple hundred...

Hopefully I'm wrong, but I've had that happen in a couple vehicles..


The Dude Approved

 

[irish2003]

Hopefully I'm wrong, but I've had that happen in a couple vehicles..


The Dude Approved

the car isn't blue booked for that lol...i got a super good cash deal from my friend for only 1500 last may because he wanted the cash for down payment on an accord...and yes i would nearly floor it and sometimes it would finally catch between 4-5500 (normally around 3-3500 previously) and sometimes not at all (i never pushed above 7000 and we didn't travel too far but were able to go 70 normal speeds and normal rpm's for most of the drive home from the function we went to...funny thing is it didn't start til i turned the a/c on while bumper to bumper rush hour drive yesterday then when after that it was having those issues even after i turned a/c off
i'm taking it to a transmission shop today in couple hours...gonna check tran fluid and take it on interstate in a few minutes to see it it's still doing it today...

haha i had to google/youtube how to check transmission fluid...

if anyone is registered with Angie's List and can help me out looking up: Dunham Transmission West Allis that would be great

so my first stop was to the place i had the oil change and full service fluids done since i couldn't find the dipstick while in the advance auto parking lot lol...there is no dipstick duh...anyway they told me to go ahead with the inspect and estimate and they're thinking due to mileage it very well could be sediment buildup and is needing a fluid replacement/flush but told me to see what the other place says first and bring them the estimate...they also said going to work monday and tuesday (48 miles each way) should be fine but to consider taking back roads so i don't waste gas with high rpm's on interstate..this would only be a couple weekdays til i had enough cash together to get anything done to it

btw it's not making any noises or grinding or metal sounds or ticking or anything...it's only revving high trying to get into top gears...lower gears runs like a champ as always

 

[Presser]

It could be a couple of things the best thing to do is get it check out

damn, ill bet he never thought to do that ay! lmao

 

[Presser]

car problems suck dick! once the first issues arrises, its like fucking dominos, regardless if you bought it brand new or not, and i don't know why that is, but in all my years and many of cars and trucks, i could go forever with no issues, then as soon as the first issue came up i knew more were to follow shortly! They don't make shit to last anymore , i know that much!

 

[Masher59]

If the top end is going out then it's slowly going to work it's way down into the other gears and faster if you are punching it making it slip. I'm sure you searched tranny repairs and let me tell you they can suck up the pocket book.

 

[irish2003]

yeah i paid $3,500 to have one in my explorer rebuilt and it was never the same even after that! Then the mechanic killed himself, so its not like i could have brought it back anyhow

that 3500 would have bought you a decent used vehicle instead

 

[irish2003]

so possibly good news but with grain of salt...at the transmission shop the guy took for test drive and said it's running fine, however, i punched it omw there and omw home and pedal all the way it finally changed to top gear around 6,000rpm...so we're gonna do a tuneup at my parents sunday and next week a drop pan transmission service at the lube place like they recommended...


i hate going thru vehicle issues when it's your only car, but this is how you learn things is when shit happens to them...thanks for all the replies everyone...i'll keep you all posted

 

[CH3NO2]

Tranny...

 

[Masher59]

Tranny...

Those pics are down in the other section lol.

 

[glycomann]

Sounds like the transmission needs a rebuild.