A4 not shifting right

[Jaymatic]

I tried a search but wasn't really sure what to type for keywords. My 96 3.8L w/A4 is shifting weird. My car is totally stock right now. If I accelerate slowly (real slow) it's fine. but once I get to about 1/4 throttle, in between 2nd and 3rd (from 30 to about 40 mph) the rpms go really high, then come back down, then go really high, and I have to let the gas off almost all the way for it to stop. When it does this, the car also stops accelerating but it doesn't quite feel like it is in neutral. It also does it shifting from 1st to 2nd (about 15 to 20 mph), but not nearly as bad and not all the time either. Any ideas guys? It would really help.

oh, and when I got home I popped the hood and had my brother push on the gas pedal, doesn't seem like its a problem with the throttle cable, unless there is something I can't see.

[grayman]

um, it could be bad news...like tranny shop bad news. maybe get a couple of estimates to confirm.

also, how old is the tranny fluid? how many miles on the tranny? has it ever had a fluid change or total fluid flush? Is the tranny fluid RED or brown? Does it smell burnt? Is the tranny fluid properly toped off?

[Jaymatic]

Fluid, filter, all that, new, fine. 70,000 miles on car & tranny.

Took it to the shop. Clutch packs are gone... $1600 for the rebuild... not something I'm real happy to be paying for right now.

[Brent Neader]

Check around on some local boards. On a local board of mine ive seen rebuilt trannys go for $500-$800.