Transmission won`t shift into 3rd gear//no power in 3rd gear

[Jaque-gusto]

Hey everyone,
I am hoping to get some advice from you with my problem.

A few days ago my car stopped changing from 2nd gear into 3rd gear or maybe it just seems like it to me. At around 50-60kph, when it should shift into 3rd gear it starts to idle really high and doesn't bring any power on the road, almost seems to be in neutral. I can manually put it back in 2nd gear and it will stay in 2nd gear when I change it into D while keeping the load on the transmission, but won`t change into 3rd gear at all ( I drove up to 80kph but still didn`t change).

I have to say that I was low on transmission fluid for about 10km before the problem started. During that time the transmission might have been damaged. I topped the fluid up and ever since have that problem.

Is there a chance that I clogged up the filter when running low on fluid? Also I got a little leek one of the cooling pipes going into the transmission, but I had that since I changed the transmission about 2 month ago. Could that lead to a pressure problem in the transmission?

Thanks a lot guys.

[somefool]

might have cooked a clutch pack pr something, a job for the professionals - give any autotrans place a ring. OR this mob Gawler Autos (8522 2558), even though you are in melbourne, these guys will know the answers to pretty much any trans related question u can ask.

The small leak from the cooling pipes wouldnt affect it. Ive got a seeping union at the trans cooler and that doesnt affect the car at all.

hope this helps

[Circlotron]

I had a similar problem with a Trimatic. The vacuum line to the modulator fell off and made the tranny think it had full throttle 24/7 so it was reluctant so upshift. The air leak into vacuum line made it idle bad but on an EFI car it would just idle fast.

[ibo]

Hey mate i had the same problem a few months ago. I was driving and when the car hit 60ks and change into 3rd it would just rev like it was in neutral. Iv lost 3rd gear and i think you might as well.. your going to have to take it to professionals and get it checked out

[Jaque-gusto]

Thanks for the answers.
I changed my transmission fluid and put a new filter in. I hope that will help and the problem fixes itself. Otherwise I probably have no choice but to go to the wreckers and look for a 'new' transmission. They are a 110$ with torque converter, so I might give it a shot.