Thread: Wont upshift 2-3 but down shifts 4-3

I have been having some problems with the trans upshifting from 2nd to 3rd for awhile now. When going through town, it will not shift 2-3. Rpm's are reading about 2500 when at 35mph, but once I reach 40mph it will will shift into 4th, but its a very harsh shift. So as of right now I have 1,2, and 4th.

Now when I come back into town from highway speeds, it will downshift from 4th to 3rd and hold nice and steady, but as soon as it gets below 30mph it shifts back into 2nd and if I try going 30mph and over again same thing happens. NO 2-3 shift.

I've had problems with it surging in 3rd prior to it not shifting. When it would go to shift into 3rd it would buck and kick so I'm assuming thats the tc lock up causing that? And then all of a sudden no upshift to 3rd?

I've asked around and noone seems to no know what im talking about so I figured I would get on here and ask. I'm curous if maybe a solenoid is out since it still downshifts from 4-3 or if something else is messed up here. I plan on doing a pan drop to change the fluid even tho its only been in there for about 5000 miles.

Any other ideas?

I cannot tell you enough how much your help will be appreciated!

A little info may help understanding about how our transmissions work.

To shift we require two soleniods. A and B, the combination of on/off with these two is how we achieve 4 gear changes. 1st is something like On/On, 2nd On/Off, 3rd Off/Off, 4th Off/On. The only one of those that I'm positive I got right is 3rd. It's a default. But that's the overall how we get the various gears. When the soleniod engages it or fluid pushes a valve, that valve directs fluid into the passages in the trans that push a clutch piston to engage the clutches.

Not getting 3rd could be a sprag issue, there is a one way sprag that helps it engage etc. But then.. it shouldn't downshift to 3rd. A stuck valve or soleniod would show up both ways, not just upshift.

Have you scanned the car for codes? The harsh shift makes me think that there are codes stored or happening.

I was gonna ask for codes... you cheater Bill!

Also...How many miles on the car?

Transmission ever been serviced? As in...pan drop, filter change...I've seen transmission do some crazy crap with a bummed out filter.

Originally Posted by bluegtp91

Also...How many miles on the car?

Transmission ever been serviced? As in...pan drop, filter change...I've seen transmission do some crazy crap with a bummed out filter.

Read Nick, he said the fluid has only been in there for 5k miles.

I've had a ses light on since day one when I got the car couple years back. Its always been for the evap purge solenoid. I was going to take the car up to advance and buy some fluid, filter and see if they will scan the car. Will they be able to see trans codes with the obd scannner?

The car has 196,000 on it! I know, I know its time for a rebuild, but if it is'nt totally shot then I don't want to rebuild it, since funds are kind of low right now. Yes it has been serviced. Last summer I think is when I did it.

I forgot to mention that I replaced the purge solenoid and the light never went off, so I figured I had a vac leak somewhere. I've looked and never came up with anything tho

Yeah, record any codes that give you and report back. That will help us more.

It is possible that codes are sitting there. To ensure you had codes, I'd drive it..get the issue to happen and the harsh shifts. Then w/o turning it off..have it scanned. Many trans codes reset on ign cycle to help the trans behave it's best in case something stuck or was a one time type thing.

Alright, will do! Thanks for the quick reply's guys. I will be back in a half hour or so.

We are timing you.

Lol, little longer than I thought. Had it scanned and the only code it was giving was po440 for the evap. I made a couple video's of it and will have them up in a min

Here's one shifting from 2-4
Sorry about the glare from the sun, I tried to block it out
20110531095740.mp4 video by bstuby - Photobucket

Here's one downshifting from 4-3 then I drop to 30mph and no more 3rd gear
20110531100346.mp4 video by bstuby - Photobucket

Here's a couple more.
20110531102122.mp4 video by bstuby - Photobucket

20110531102259.mp4 video by bstuby - Photobucket

Nobody has any input now?

I'm thinkin

You don't have a clear cut, easy issue happening. My first suggestion would be call Dave at TEP and talk to the man. He'll know if anyone does.

Alright, thanks for your advice Bill, I will give him a call. He doesn't mind people just calling him out of the blue and asking a bunch of questions? haha

here's what ya do. You ensure it's during the hours it says you can call on his website. And when you talk to him, tell him I suggested it.

I'm aiming for over 200 people to tell him that this year.

^^^ I talked to Dave at TEP and he said basically the same thing billboost said about it being a sprag issue. He named off something else also, but I cant remember what it is now. Either way my trans will have to be rebuilt since he said my 3rd gear is prob so worn that it wont catch, but I figured it had a good run. 196,000 and sitll going for now.

I'm learning. Thanks for letting us know what he said.