Chevrolet Repair: 97 Sunfire Transmission Problems, electronic today, manual transmissions

Question
PLEASE HELP!!! My 16 yr old daughter just bought her first car (97 sunfire 2.2 automotic tranny) And it now has a problem. The transmission doesnt seem to want to shift. It shifts out of first just fine, at normal speed and rpm's but then it doesnt seem to want to shift, I couldnt tell if it went into second gear, since the engine was revving to 4000 rpm's at 45-50 mph and I didnt dare to try to push it any harder, but if I put the car manualy into 2 then the rpm's would drop for a second and go right back up. THe fluid level checked ok, but had kind of a burnt smell, and the engine seems to be running good. Any info would be of great help since she spent her whole saving to buy her first car and I will be the one paying the repair bill, if its worth fixing.

Answer
Hi Karen,

Sorry about your misfortune.  Sunfire is not known for being the most reliable car.  Mainly it is a throw away car.  

These cars usually come with manual transmissions.  I am having a hard time finding information on which transmission you have.  What ever it is, it will be electronic.  Today these cars are so sophisticated.  Is the check engine light on?  If not, there still may be a code.  Go to an auto store who will pull your codes for free.  This will tell you exactly why you are not shifting.  Could be a shift valve, or govenor/speed sensor, or bad internal part, or a variety of things.  Just to show you how many things it could be, here are the possible codes:

DTC P0700 Transmission Control System Malfunction
DTC P0701 Transmission Control System Range/Performance
DTC P0702 Transmission Control System Electrical
DTC P0703 Brake Switch Circuit Malfunction
DTC P0704 Clutch Switch Input Circuit Malfunction
DTC P0705 Trans Range Switch Circuit
DTC P0706 Trans Range Switch Performance
DTC P0707 Transmission Range Sensor Circuit Low Input
DTC P0708 Transmission Range Sensor Circuit High Input
DTC P0709 Transmission Range Sensor Circuit Intermittent
DTC P0710 Transmission Fluid Temperature Sensor Circuit Malfunction
DTC P0711 TFT Sensor Circuit Range/Performance
DTC P0712 Transmission Fluid Temperature (TFT) Sensor Circuit Low Input
DTC P0713 Transmission Fluid Temperature (TFT) Sensor Circuit High Input
DTC P0714 Transmission Fluid Temperature Sensor Circuit Intermittent
DTC P0715 Input/Turbine Speed Sensor Circuit Malfunction
DTC P0716 Input Speed Sensor Circuit Intermittent
DTC P0717 Input Speed Sensor Circuit Low Input
DTC P0718 Input/Turbine Speed Sensor Circuit Intermittent
DTC P0719 Brake Switch Circuit Low Input
DTC P0720 Output Speed Sensor Circuit Malfunction
DTC P0721 Output Speed Sensor Range/Performance
DTC P0722 Output Speed Sensor Circuit Low Input
DTC P0723 Output Speed Sensor Intermittent
DTC P0724 Brake Switch Circuit High Input
DTC P0725 Engine Speed Input Circuit
DTC P0726 Engine Speed Input Circuit Range/Performance
DTC P0727 Engine Speed Circuit No Signal
DTC P0728 Engine Speed Input Circuit Intermittent
DTC P0730 Incorrect Gear Ratio
DTC P0731 Incorrect 1st Gear Ratio
DTC P0732 Incorrect 2nd Gear Ratio
DTC P0733 Incorrect 3rd Gear Ratio
DTC P0734 Incorrect 4th Gear Ratio
DTC P0735 Gear 5 Incorrect ratio
DTC P0736 Reverse incorrect gear ratio
DTC P0740 TCC Enable Solenoid Circuit Electrical
DTC P0741 TCC System Stuck Off
DTC P0742 TCC System Stuck On
DTC P0743 TCC Enable Solenoid Circuit Electrical
DTC P0744 Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Intermittent
DTC P0745 Pressure Control Solenoid Malfunction
DTC P0746 Pressure Control Solenoid Performance or Stuck Off
DTC P0747 Pressure Control Solenoid Stuck On
DTC P0748 Pressure Control Solenoid Circuit Electrical
DTC P0749 Pressure Control Solenoid Intermittent
DTC P0750 Shift Solenoid A Malfunction
DTC P0751 1-2 Shift Solenoid Valve Performance - No First or Fourth Gear
DTC P0752 1-2 Shift Solenoid Valve Performance - No Second or Third Gear
DTC P0753 1-2 Shift Solenoid Circuit Electrical
DTC P0754 Shift Solenoid A Intermittent
DTC P0755 Shift Solenoid B Malfunction
DTC P0756 2-3 Shift Solenoid Valve Performance - No First or Second Gear
DTC P0757 2-3 Shift Solenoid Valve Performance - No Third or Fourth Gear
DTC P0758 2-3 Shift Solenoid Circuit Electrical
DTC P0759 Shift Solenoid B Intermittent
DTC P0760 Shift Solenoid C Malfunction
DTC P0761 Shift Solenoid C Performance or Stuck Off
DTC P0762 Shift Solenoid C Stuck On
DTC P0763 Shift Solenoid C Electrical
DTC P0764 Shift Solenoid C Intermittent
DTC P0765 Shift Solenoid D Malfunction
DTC P0766 Shift Solenoid D Performance or Stuck Off
DTC P0767 Shift Solenoid D Stuck On
DTC P0768 Shift Solenoid D Electrical
DTC P0769 Shift Solenoid D Intermittent
DTC P0770 Shift Solenoid E Malfunction
DTC P0771 Shift Solenoid E Performance or Stuck Off
DTC P0772 Shift Solenoid E Stuck On
DTC P0773 Shift Solenoid E Electrical
DTC P0774 Shift Solenoid E Intermittent
DTC P0780 Shift Malfunction
DTC P0781 1-2 Shift Malfunction
DTC P0782 2-3 Shift Malfunction
DTC P0783 3-4 Shift Malfunction
DTC P0784 4-5 Shift Malfunction
DTC P0785 3-2 Shift Solenoid Circuit Electrical
DTC P0786 Shift/Timing Solenoid Range/Performance
DTC P0787 Shift/Timing Solenoid Low
DTC P0788 Shift/Timing Solenoid High
DTC P0789 Shift/Timing Solenoid Intermittent
DTC P0790 Normal/Performance Switch Circuit Malfunction
DTC P0801 Reverse Inhibit Control Circuit Malfunction
DTC P0803 1-4 Upshift (Skip Shift) Solenoid Control Circuit Malfunction
DTC P0804 1-4 Upshift (Skip Shift) Lamp Control Circuit Malfunction

As you can see, for me to pin point what it is, would be impossible without trouble shooting.  I would get a free scan.  If nothing comes of that, then try a good transmission shop.  Stay away from Aamco.  Don't use any chain shops.  Could be $100 or $2000.  There are transmissions in the junk yard.  If necessary, buy one of those with a guanantee ($300 or less), and have someone install it for a couple of hundred ($300 or less).  

Wish I could be more help.  I hate when I can't help more.

Good luck.

C J S