1995 Camry - Spittin' and Sputterin'

Car is a 1995 Toyota Camry with 175,000 miles

Cheif Complaint: Car is spitting and sputtering at 2200 rpm's.

History of present problem: For about a month now, car has been spitting and sputtering (or hesitating) on the highway around 2200 rpms. Hesitation improves when slowing down below 2000 rpm's and excellerating past 2500 rpms. It seems to only happen in the higher gears. Hesitation is not reproducible in lower gears or in neutral. Seems to be worse when traveling uphill. Car has rebuilt automatic transmission which in the past has slipped a few times when placed in drive. That problem improved with added fluid. There is a bit of a rattle heard when gas pedal is engaged all the way during excelleration.


Previous History: Car had a rebuilt automatic transmission installed March 2004.

Other problems: None

Exam: Transmission fluid found on garage floor on cars right, though transmission is on the left. Unable to get to lines to check if there is a line leak. Transmission fluid is full. Could not reproduce "spit and sputter" or "hesitation" in neutral or in 1st gear. Car seems to hesitate more once car is hot, and less when its cold.

Question - Could this be a line leak problem, some sort of pressure issue. Or is this more likely to be a problem in the transmission internally, such as bad rings? Or does this sound unrelated to transmission all together, possibly fuel injectors?

Thanks for your help.

RG