Anyone have this trouble with a car?

[Megan23]

Sometimes when I drive my car, it will start to slow down and I have trouble accelerating. I usually have to push the pedal to the floor, and the RPMs go way up, until it finally switches gears and accelerates.
Recently I've had trouble getting my car into first gear at all. This morning I drove quite a ways before it kicked in. It's an automatic, so it shouldn't have this problem.
Does anyone know what the problem might be? I'm going to take it in soon, but I wanted to get advice first, because I don't want to pay more than necessary. Is this a problem with the engine/transmission, accelerator, gear shifting, etc?
The car is a 2000 Hyundai Elantra wagon, if that helps.
Thank you!

 

[mickeyfan2]

My best guess would be transmission. Only a mechanic will know for sure.

 

[tar heel]

That's transmission. Are you leaking fluid? If you are, you may find that keeping the fluid at the appropriate level solves a lot of the problem. I've been nursing along a transmission for several months and have become quite the mechanic.

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

1-888-car-talk

 

[kristen821]

Sounds like the transmission to me. Check your transmission fluid. The car has to be running for awhile before you check it. If you don't have a leak and the fluid is low check your oil. I had a car that there was something wrong with a gasket ($7 part 8 years ago) and the transmission fluid was going into the oil.

 

[lizanne]

I'd say transmission.

 

[Imzadi]

The " slowing down and I have trouble accelerating," may be a problem with a clogged fuel filter that needs to be changed. But the second problem does sound like the transmission.

 

[Shutterbug]

I 2nd with the others and want to add that I hope its a minor problem because if its not... dollar wise its going to be

 

[Kimickey]

Your Engine Coil Pack could be going bad. I had this happen to me a couple of years ago. The problems your are describing sound just like the trouble I had especially if everything in your car is electronic. Go get that checked ASAP. Because it can cause engine failure if not fixed. It cost me $500 to get fixed that's with labor included.

 

[Just2554]

I've been having this problem in my 1996 Jeep Cherokee and my father and our mechanic have been testing and changing things like crazy trying to pinpoint the problem. It still acts up and has gotten to be quite annoying.

I hope everything works out for you! I understand your frustration.