Tranny shifting into third...

[ace10]

Hello all-

I hate staring threads, but I've exhausted my search capabilities...

Here's the situation: My '94 80 has just under 100K miles. I've had it since 82K. The transmission wants to go into third very quickly under part throttle conditions. This is especially evident in moderate speeds like those seen in rush hour. The shift almost always occurs with a bit of a "SLAM", as it it were power shifting the cog home. My solution has been to leave it in "2" when I'm driving in these conditions, then bump it into "D" when I get rolling.

The slamming sensation could be described as a hard shift, but much worse than any that I have felt in other vehicles. The shift doesn't make the engine bogs, so the revs are about right, it just the lack of finesse and shock to the driveline that I'm concered about.

QUESTION: Since I couldn't find anything using combinations of tranny, transmission, slam, hard, shift, and early, sis it safe to assume that this either a rare condition or one that is some common, that it doens't requre attention?

Also, I added the ARB (non winch) bumper to my rig. She now leans forward like a skinny babe with 38DD's . OME, here I come.

Thanks mucho,
Aaron

 

[G-Cat]

Sorry I can't really help, but the slam doesn't sound normal or good. Have you added bigger tires since your purchase, or are you running stockers? I ask because when I went from stockers to 285s it changed my shift points, but did not add a noticeable slam from 2nd to 3rd.

 

[GXO]

Will it go to 4th after and walk back down to 1st at the next stop?

May want to check your linkages for play and adjustment. Almost sounds electrical as well so I will defer to those who know more. I do know that 3rd is the "limp home" gear in the later model trannies.

 

[ace10]

I haven't done any drivetrain mods. Tires are stock LTX's. The transmission will run very nicely through the gears if given more than light throttle. She'll downshift reasonable well, too. When I'm coming to a stop, there aren't any surges or misshifts that I can notice.

 

[RavenTai]

basics:
adjust the kickdown cable?
how does the fluid look?

 

[landtank]

I'd look through the drive line components. Slop in the universals could give you a rough shift and when you are under power it will take up that slop and mask the problem.

 

[cruiserdan]

It sounds like a kick-down cable adjustment or maybe one of the shift solenoids. Does it change if you select the power mode vs the normal mode?

 

[ace10]

lots of solid leads... exactly what i need. i'm afraid that it could be a solenoid that could be acting up.

i did a little more careful driving/examing and realized that it rarely happens under light throttle application. moderate throttle through first and into second then a lift of the throttle will ALWAYS cause it to happen. this is exactly how it goes in rolling heavy traffic. if press the ECT button, i rarely get into third because it loves to hold second right on up tach.

the least intrusive diagnosis is the kick down cable. i will work that angle first. i'll do a search, but if i can't find anything or if that's not it I'LL BE BACK.

thanks again.

the fluid looks and smells ok.

 

[cruiserdan]

Oh, I just had a thought.

Go to the vendor section and find Extreme transmissions. PM him and ask about your problem. He likely knows more about that transmission than the people who build them.

 

[jesterb]

Almost sounds electrical as well so I will defer to those who know more. I do know that 3rd is the "limp home" gear in the later model trannies.

My '94 did sort-of the same thing a few months ago. Do you have more than one gear indicator light on? Mine was stuck in 3rd with the P and R lights on. Turns out it was a bad connection from the wiring harness to the transmission. I checked more connections and they were bad too. I(my mechanic)ended up replacing the entire wiring harness and with the advice of 80scool I had him pack all of the connections with dielectric grease. There is a guy on that list that had his tranny rebuild to a tune of like $4500 and still had to replace the connections . Good luck.

 

[jesterb]

The connection in question is located on the passenger side behind the starter.

 

[RavenTai]

The connection in question is located on the passenger side behind the starter.

starter is on the drivers side?

 

[jesterb]

starter is on the drivers side?

One of my vehicles has or should that be had the starter on the passenger side.
Which one could it be Oh well,

 

[cruiserdan]

Minitruck

 

[jesterb]

Minitruck

There ya go. Just sold it.

 

[Sangamo]

3rd Gear Clunk

Ace10

Were you able to contact Extreme transmissions? Did they recognize the symptoms and advise what to do? I think I have a similar clunk and am very interested in your fix.

Steve

 

[ace10]

i have not researched further. i spoke w/another guy in my office with a 94FZJ and he says that he "may" be experienceing the same thing too. for grins and giggles i reckeced the fluid and now i'm concerned that it could be slightly overfilled. i am going to recheck tonight.

extreme tranny is on my to do list.

 

[Tooth Fairy]

I had a crapload of tranny shifting problems for about 6 mos. after I bought my '93 w/ 165K on the odo. Turns out the PO hadn't reconnected the throttle cable to the mount on the intake manifold after replacing some stuff. After being scared to death at all the prices I got I found that tha cable was not mounted properly. I hooked it up about 80K ago. No more problems. I'm not saying that's what yours is, but, I bet it's not a solenoid. Prolly just a stretched cable.

 

[areyouliving]

This may be a little off......but have you changed the tranny filter kit?

 

[cruiserdan]

Toyota does not use a consumable filter like the domestics do. It is a metal screen.