Is it transmission or an Engine problem?

Question

I have an automatic transmission '92 Stealth. When I put the car in reverse, it rocks pretty hard when the car is first started. The longer I drive, the less noticable the rocking sensation when reversing - i.e. if I drive a distance to a place and the transmission fluid warms up, after parking and then reversing out of the spot the hard shift into reverse is not as noticable and sometimes not even present. I guy at a shop said it was most likely a transmission fluid leak somewhere and added a quart of fluid and gave me a card to a transmission shop. The other problem is when the car is accelerating from a stop, it is embarassing slow! It seems to have lost any power in the lower gears. Don't think these two problem are related and perhaps it is both a transmission problem and engine problem?

Answer 1

It's more likely to be a transmission problem. When it's accelerating slow, try putting the car in neutral and seeing if the engine rev's up when you step on the gas. If it does, that means the transmission is not down shifting to the lower gear and why you feel that it's accelerating slow.

Answer 2

Transmission problem.

It is either low on fluid, or it is slipping (caused by driving it around low on fluid) which basically means you may have burnt your tranny up. I would have it checked out but I don't think your engine is the problem.

The lurching is due to the fluid pressure building up inside your tranny, it shoudl be rather smooth if things are working correctly. If the fluid is low and or the tranny is slipping the clutches will grab when they engage rather than do it smoothly. Kinda like bucking th clutch on an manual transmission.