Just a follow-up on the engine problem (engine cut off @3000 rpm, I was suspecting a missing tooth on the fly wheel that was fooling the rpm sensors). Well, the fly wheel was missing two teeth but the main problem seemd to be in the automatic transmission. I ended up replacing the fly wheel ($550 Cdn) and the automatic transmission ($3.000 Cdn, second hand, 104.000 km). The car is driving like new again.
All the best,
Florin.