Car is hesitating to accelerate around 20-30mph?

Question

Problem just started today. Pontiac Sunfire, 1997, 88k miles. My car is hesitating during acceleration around 20-30 mph. It's like it tops off a that moment. If I press harder, It will slowly climb...but i can tell that the engine is struggling as it feels like its running hard and sounds louder than normal. From 0 to around about 20 or 30mph, the car accelerates normally, but after that, it won't. If I pull my foot off of the gas and then try to accelerate again, it doesn't seem to respond. To be completely honest....I haven't had a tune-up or oil change in quite some time...(I know- terrible) I am definitely planning on taking it in ASAP, but I would like to have an idea of what the problem could be. Any suggestions as to what it might be? Thank you.

Answer 1

It sounds to me like its a transmission related problem.. Try putting it in another gear. Let me know what it was after ya bring it in.

Answer 2

get a new car

Answer 3

It's a Sunfire thing...Mine is a '99 with only 53k on it, and it has done the same thing since I got it 5 years ago. It will get to about 30mph, and kinda stay there for a few seconds, even if I'm pushing the gas, and then it will slowly accelerate to the speed I want to get it to, but it almost seems like the engine is bogged down or something (although it shouldn't be). It only does it when it's around 30mph, after that, it accelerates perfectly fine. Mine doesn't really sound any louder when I have the problem, though.

Answer 4

is it like when you get to 20 mph it starts to just free rev? like it all the sudden is in neutral and not in gear?

like, your pushing the gas, accelerating, all the sudden it stops like accelerating and the engine free revs as if it has dropped into neutral.

if thats the problem it could be from not been run in a while, but it will only happen once. if the problem persists it could be something wrong with a gear like the gear is worn out. which means transmission problem!

and, if it is where you get to 20mph and it just kind of stops trying that is transmission problem.

i forget exactly what it is, but i know its transmission