A442F shifting from 1st directly to 3rd

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So I found the right page in the FSM. 83-85 point to the ESA (Electronic Spark Advance) Circuit link between the ECU and TCM.
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But since its the entire ESA circuit from the TCM is throwing a fault I'm thinking that the TCM is having an intermittent input from one of the sensors.
 
So I found the right page in the FSM. 83-85 point to the ESA (Electronic Spark Advance) Circuit link between the ECU and TCM.


But since its the entire ESA circuit from the TCM is throwing a fault I'm thinking that the TCM is having an intermittent input from one of the sensors.

The other possibility is a faulty TCM which might be easier to diagnose by swapping in a known working part.
 
Look what I found.....
Replacing the ECU is expensive. Checking the TPS is not.

Quoting Christo:

"The computer is looking at the idle circuit. So you might think the problem is at the tranny, but more than likely the throttle position sensor is faulty or misadjusted and it is not telling the tcm that the truck is idling. Use the FSM and check and adjust the tps if needed."

That sounds quite likely.
 
Yup that was it. The codes are misleading because they pout to a transmission problem in the FSM and a ECU problem on mud.

Took a second to uncover what that circuit is doing and which inputs it was using to find it pointing back to the tps.
 
Well I think the problem is that the sensor fails when it is heat soaked. It happened again today on my way up the hill to assist in some recoveries.

Except this time I got code 041 TPS signal. Also the TCM was putting out pulses to the diagnostic light but it wasn't enough to trigger the light... could the TCM be going down too?
 
Well I think the problem is that the sensor fails when it is heat soaked. It happened again today on my way up the hill to assist in some recoveries.

Except this time I got code 041 TPS signal. Also the TCM was putting out pulses to the diagnostic light but it wasn't enough to trigger the light... could the TCM be going down too?
I chased TPS code to, I ended up running a new wiring overlay for all four wires to the TPS. Left the factory wires and ran new ones along with it.

All is well, now.
 
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It was a combination of two factors:

1) Failing TPS Sensor caused the TCM to freak out and grab the wrong gears / go unresponsive. This condition magnified when the engine got heat soaked.
2) A secondary issue was noticed, it felt like the trans was popping out of gear then slamming back into it. You can only imagine how terrifying this was to me. Well it did it on a climb in the mountains I happened to be along a rock wall which allowed me to hear the rapid clicking sound of a worn hub splines popping in and out of engagement. The culprit was a failing AVM 4x4----4x2 hub on the front axle. I locked the center and unlocked the hubs and the problem stopped. (In the middle of a 4x2 conversion)

So it turns out the TPS CAN AND DOES trigger codes 83,84,& 85. And HEAT does affect this sensor (even noticed at the end of a 5 hr drive in 100 degree temps that my new sensor was out of adjustment a bit due to the heat)

I'd bet that the later ECU addresses this issue by broadening the tolerance limits and possibly conditions the signal some.
 
A quick comment on this thread, many years later. My ‘93 was exhibiting similar problems over the last week or two - transmission worked fine until the truck warmed up and then it started going from 1st to 3rd (skipping 2nd) and downshifting from 3rd and 4th directly to 1st when accelerating resulting in scary high RPMS - not good. It was also starting to kick codes - flashing the OD light, but I never got around to decoding those. I fiddled with a bunch of stuff overt a period of days, including the kick-down cable but nothing had any impact at all. I finally found this thread and decided to swap out the TPS from another truck and BOOM - totally fixed! Transmission is running like a champ again. Appreciate all the work that went into this by the OP and others. Hope it can help someone else!
 
A quick comment on this thread, many years later. My ‘93 was exhibiting similar problems over the last week or two - transmission worked fine until the truck warmed up and then it started going from 1st to 3rd (skipping 2nd) and downshifting from 3rd and 4th directly to 1st when accelerating resulting in scary high RPMS - not good. It was also starting to kick codes - flashing the OD light, but I never got around to decoding those. I fiddled with a bunch of stuff overt a period of days, including the kick-down cable but nothing had any impact at all. I finally found this thread and decided to swap out the TPS from another truck and BOOM - totally fixed! Transmission is running like a champ again. Appreciate all the work that went into this by the OP and others. Hope it can help someone else!
Well, I have to report back that the TPS replacement did *not* fix my transmission issues. The problem came back shortly after posting here (of course!). The ultimate issue turned out to be a faulty shift solenoid 2, as diagnosed per the shop manual. I had to drop the transmission pan - which was a nasty PITA of a job - and while I was in there I went ahead and replaced all 4 of the solenoids. It’s been several days now and everything is shifting normally. Good luck to anyone else who is dealing with this!
 
Reviving this one.. Having the same issue. 94 FZJ80. A442F transmission. Feels like it's skipping second gear, going straight to 3rd. If I'm starting uphill or any kind of a load is on it, whole truck shudders. I can manually shift it out and it shifts and drives fine. Going to go through the factory transmission manual tonight and trouble shoot.. But any thoughts?

But so far:
Changed and adjusted the kick down cable.
Swapped all 4 solenoids, changed filter and new fluid.
Readjusted the TPS Sensor per manual, and everything seemed to be good.
Pulled TCM plugs and made sure they were not corroded or wet, looked good.

No change, still feels like it's skipping second gear. Not throwing any codes.
 
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Reviving this one.. Having the same issue. 94 FZJ80. A442F transmission. Feels like it's skipping second gear, going straight to 3rd. If I'm starting uphill or any kind of a load is on it, whole truck shudders. I can manually shift it out and it shifts and drives find. Going to go through the factory transmission manual tonight and trouble shoot.. But any thoughts?

But so far:
Changed and adjusted the kick down cable.
Swapped all 4 solenoids, changed filter and new fluid.
Readjusted the TPS Sensor per manual, and everything seemed to be good.
Pulled TCM plugs and made sure they were not corroded or wet, looked good.

No change, still feels like it's skipping second gear. Not throwing any codes.
Dang man! I know how frustrating it is! I tried just about everything and the solenoids did the trick for me. You might want to check the cabling that runs from the solenoids out from the transmission. That might be frayed or damaged and causing the issue.
 
Dang man! I know how frustrating it is! I tried just about everything and the solenoids did the trick for me. You might want to check the cabling that runs from the solenoids out from the transmission. That might be frayed or damaged and causing the issue.

Reviving this one.. Having the same issue. 94 FZJ80. A442F transmission. Feels like it's skipping second gear, going straight to 3rd. If I'm starting uphill or any kind of a load is on it, whole truck shudders. I can manually shift it out and it shifts and drives fine. Going to go through the factory transmission manual tonight and trouble shoot.. But any thoughts?

But so far:
Changed and adjusted the kick down cable.
Swapped all 4 solenoids, changed filter and new fluid.
Readjusted the TPS Sensor per manual, and everything seemed to be good.
Pulled TCM plugs and made sure they were not corroded or wet, looked good.

No change, still feels like it's skipping second gear. Not throwing any codes.
Follow-up on this one. Just swapped in a new Nomad Valve Body. No change.. going to check the wiring as best I can… any ideas?
 
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We’ll. Follow-up

Follow-up on this one. Just swapped in a new Nomad Valve Body. No change.. going to check the wiring as best I can… any ideas
Have you tried powering the solenoids from as far upstream the wire as possible to see if they will click? Ohm test as mentioned earlier in the thread also worthwhile. Did the nomad body come with solenoids or did you swap yours in? Connector on left hand side of gearbox to solenoid wires (near serial number plate) can be pretty cruddy too...but you have checked that out.
 
Have you tried powering the solenoids from as far upstream the wire as possible to see if they will click? Ohm test as mentioned earlier in the thread also worthwhile. Did the nomad body come with solenoids or did you swap yours in? Connector on left hand side of gearbox to solenoid wires (near serial number plate) can be pretty cruddy too...but you have checked that out.
Yea, going to have to start checking wires I guess. Nomad Valve Body didn't come with new solenoids. But I swapped the new ones that i just put in, into it. Pulled the side plug and cleaned it, wasn't cruddy when I opened it up.
 
Most likely suspect at this point is the solenoid pigtail/sub–harness, as was suggested above. They are still available new.
82125-36010 Wire, Transmission; under $25 delivered to your door.
 
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