What causes my automatic 2000 Saturn wagon to rev past 3000 rpm to reach a speed of 30 mph from 0 mph?

SOURCE: stick shift # Automatic RPM

The gear ratios on a manual transmission are fixed, that's why it's a manual. If you get 3000 rpm at 75 mph, that means you will see 3200 rpm at 80 mph, 3400 rpm at 85 mph, etc. The two quantities are directly proportional, a fixed ratio for each gear. You would get a lower rpm with a 6-speed manual but still it's a fixed ratio.

On a car with automatic transmission, it can be more complicated. Most transmissions nowadays have various "overdrive" modes that keep the rpm low if you're going steady at a high speed. Some even have continuous gear ratios, so it's hard to say "what gear" you are really in. In general, the rpm will be lower on the highway with an automatic and that's normal.

SOURCE: 1997 chevy K3500 won't rev past 2300 rpm, scanner values show 0?

rpm limit ... built in to unit so you
don't blow the engine.

SOURCE: 1993 Saturn SL2 will not shift into highway gear

Saturn says and I quote

there transmission fluid is not to be changed after the first change at 6000 miles.

Now I say it should be changed at every 30000 miles. If changing out the fluid doesn't work then you need to go to a transmission repair shop.

SOURCE: Have a 2005 Jeep Liberty. After starting from a

The flashing light indicates you have a big misfire that could damage the catalytic converter.. Being you were going uphill (under high load) this would indicate an ignition issue. You may have a bad coil or wires or a bad spark plug. The reason you could only go 30mph was because the computer was put in limp mode. This is a stratagy to prevent excessive damage to components. , Get it checked out ASAP

SOURCE: 93 Honda Civic 5-speed loses power on slightest incline

check the timing cuoldbe wrong