Transmission hesitation
 

It usually happens in the morning when I am driving off the parking lot.

• Starts the engine --> fine
• Shift to "D" --> fine
• March at low speed (10mil/h) --> fine
• Press the gas paddle, the tachometer reading goes up to more than 2000rpm, but the car doesn't speed up, and the speedometer shows 10mil/h.
• Ease the gas paddle, tachometer reading lowers. The car keeps the same speed -- like I haven't tried anything.
• Press and ease the gas paddle again. The result is the same as before.
• Press the gas paddle harder till the tachometer reads more than 3000rpm. The car jumps and speeds up.
• After that, everything seems OK.

The car is a 2004 Chrysler Sebring sedan (2.7L, 6 cylinder, 4 door, automatic) with a low mileage (30k+). The problem happens after last service not long ago. Mostly in the morning, once in the afternoon.

What could go wrong? Is it a transmission problem?

"The problem happens after last service not long ago."

What did that "service" entail? Something with the transmission? Who did it?

The "last service" was a regular engine oil change and an "emission service". It was done at the chrysler dealer's.

BTW, the problem did not happen right after the service, but a couple of weeks later. I don't know whether it is related.

i know its a low milage car but do you change your transmission oil? how bout a flush?

when we got our jeep we found out that the previous owner neglected to change the tranny oil and when we pulled the tranny out to rebuild it (after it burnt up) we found a 1/2 inch of sludge built up in the overdrive :/

I did have a transmission flush a while ago (last year) at the dealer's. The receipt shows they used ATF+4. So I think the fluid is OK.

You probably ought to take it back to the dealer and report your problems. There are likely to be error codes stored in the transmission control module that the dealer can pick up with his scanner.
If you are the original owner you might still be under warranty with that low mileage.

Thanks for all the replies. It turned out there was a transmission fluid leak. After fixing the leak and tuning up the transmission, the problem was gone.