Pontiac Repair: 99 Grand Am, 3.4L, Automatic,62000miles, steep ramp, degree incline

Question
Todd,
At 25 mph I enter a highway on ramp that is about a 30 degree incline. As I go to increase the speed to climb the ramp it downshifts, as expected, but seems to go "in and out" of downshift mode. If I ease up on the gas during the incline it seems to minimize the problem.  This only happens on a steep on ramp like this. If I try to duplicate this on level ground it downshifts fine. Any ideas?
Thanks,
Cliff

Answer
Hi Clifford:

well 2 ideas #1 the transmission is low of fluid and the steep ramp the fluid sloshes to the rear of the pan and then starts to suck air into the transmission or for some rears the added load on the engine due to going up hill the engine is not responding. how about heavy acceleration on a levle road will it do that then? You could have a plugged or restsrsicted fuel filter not allwing the engine to run propely thus the transmission will not fown shift.
Good luck :)