Won't shift out of first
 

This "problem" started with my car randomly dying when at idle. It felt like someone slowly pushed in the "stop" lever on the IP till it died. It felt like a fuel problem (lift pump, filter, etc) till now.

A short time (~30 minutes) after this started happening I noticed that when I took off from a stop I could not get the RPMs up enough to go, it felt like it was bogged down, then it would finally just go and drive like normal...again I though it was a fuel problem I could diagnose when I got home.

When I took off from a red light a short time after this the transmission would not shift out of first gear and has not since. It will now start, run, drive like normal but will not shift. I do not get the random dying at idle any longer either.

I ended up driving it to my father's house as it was closer than my house, and left it. I put it up for sale for a reasonable price considering its condition but after more thought on it, it seems like it "could" be an easy fix...I just don't know what it could be.

Has anyone experienced this? Torque converter? Vacuum? Transmission?

Other than the problems I described above and up until this day it has driven fine and shifted fine. Thank you in advance.

Adam

Check your PM's.....

Could be several things - before I start the "could be" list - have you checked the obvious?

Fluid level

Fluid cleanliness

Fluid leaks

I think the two are probably unrelated. Check if you get a vacuum in the fuel tank after driving for a bit, you may have a plugged tank vent. Could also be plugged fuel filters, plugged air filter, plugged exhaust.

Not shifting out of first is a classic symptom of the kick-down switch stuck in the down position.

Agreed, start with the fuel question. Start forward, and cheapest and work back.
Primary fuel filter.......is it clear with no debris?
Secondary fuel filter.....when was it changed last?
Priming pump....is it the old style (white top) and does it leak at all?
Fuel tank screen.....connect a portable tank and see if the problem goes away. If so, you may need to drain the tank and clear the fuel screen.
Most of these are fairly easy repairs (the tank screen takes a bit more but it isn't difficult). If the car sat for quite awhile before you purchased it, the fuel system may need to be gone through. Any debris found will certainly be a red flag.

To the last three posters, I'm sorry, I did not get notifications of new post to this thread.

It turned out to be the kick down switch. With it unplugged the car shifts like it should. I am also not having any of the, what I thought to be fuel related, problems anymore either...not sure about that....

I'm going to get a new switch ordered and go from there.

The car did sell on ebay a few days ago but I think I have a non-paying buyer, I can't get him to contact me other than in Spanish via ebay message....we'll see.