Trans shifting into "L" on the road while in "D". Both lights lit at once.

[JCruse]

I was on the hwy today doing about 50-60 mph when the transmission seemed to have slipped out of gear. Looking at the gauge cluster I saw that both the D and L lights were lit at the same time. However there was no apparent downshift/revving/ or engine braking that you would expect from suddenly downshifting at that speed. Not knowing what to do I shifted into neutral and then back into drive and that fixed things until I got off onto a side road where it happened again, and then again, before I got home just a mile or two later. What could be causing this, and what is even happening? It makes no sense to me.

 

[98 SNAKE EATER]

If there's no issue while driving, try giving the dash pad right above the cluster a good hard slap next time it happens

 

[JCruse]

Hi thanks Snake. The only issue with driving is that I have no power to the wheels when this happens. It's like being in neutral.

 

[98 SNAKE EATER]

That's not good

I assume the fluid is level and not burnt?

 

[Bax454]

Check that Transmission Selector Switch (No sure what it is called) , pretty easy to pull off and check and easy to re-adjust once cleaned and lubed. I had some odd issues, especially in reverse the transmission would go into a neutral state. My dash lights are mostly burnt out, but it did solve several of my issues. (given only with experience from a 93)

 

[98 SNAKE EATER]

Any water crossings lately?

The P/N safety switch has a big plug on the side of it with a bunch of wires.

Might wanna pull it apart, blow it out with air and fill with dielectric grease before plugging it back in

 

[SmokingRocks]

Pull it apart, spray some starter fluid or brake cleaner into the connectors, then dry it with compressed air (use safety glasses) then put dielectric grease in the female side and put it back together.

 

[george_tlc]

So, you are saying it ACTUALLY goes out of gear and you are in neutral? i.e. you rev the engine and the vehicle appears in neutral?

Or is it just the lights?


cheers,
george.

 

[JCruse]

So, you are saying it ACTUALLY goes out of gear and you are in neutral? i.e. you rev the engine and the vehicle appears in neutral?

Or is it just the lights?


cheers,
george.

It behaved as if it was actually in neutral.
It began coasting down from 60 to about 35 with a free revving engine as I kept stepping on the gas trying to get it to go. Looking at the gauges BOTH the D and L lights were lit until I put it in neutral and then back in drive. That fixed it until it happened again a couple miles later. Shifting into N and back to D cured the problem again until the third time, with the same fix.

No water crossings lately.

Where exactly are these connectors located?

 

[98 SNAKE EATER]

It's on the side of the trans, can't miss it, but be careful removing the connector as they do tend to get brittle on rust belt rigs

 

[SmokingRocks]

ALSO place chalks around your wheels when messing with this under your truck.

 

[JCruse]

Thanks again Snake. Yeah I found that same pic while waiting for a response.

What's the right way to remove these connectors? push the tab in and up with a screwdriver? Or go under the tab and twist? The ones on my VW are different.



I just remembered that back in November I went through a huge 2+ foot deep puddle that turned out to be salt water from some dredging that I didn't know about. I went straight home and hosed the s*** out of the underside. I sure hope I'm not going to be chasing these gremlins all over now.

.

 

[98 SNAKE EATER]

Thanks again Snake. Yeah I found that same pic while waiting for a response.

What's the right way to remove these connectors? push the tab in and up with a screwdriver? Or go under the tab and twist? The ones on my VW are different.

Push the tab in and push the connector up (mine was a bit tight, so I pried it up with a flat blade)

I just remembered that back in November I went through a huge 2+ foot deep puddle that turned out to be salt water from some dredging that I didn't know about. I went straight home and hosed the **** out of the underside. I sure hope I'm not going to be chasing these gremlins all over now.

Was this on the path to Demo where they put down the new piping?

I was about to splash right through it with the kids one day, but got out and checked if it was salt water

Sure as $h!t it was and I took the back route near the golf course to get around it

 

[JCruse]

Yup that was it! I didn't know there was a route by the golf course. Where does it come out?

 

[98 SNAKE EATER]

Yup that was it! I didn't know there was a route by the golf course. Where does it come out?

Go through the parking lot down the sidewalk entrance at the Golf course (very tip of the lot)

Sometime late last year, they closed off the Demo entrance for some reason and there were signs to use the parking lot entrance as a detour.

It puts you about a 100 yards or so beyond the signs that tells you where to exit using the normal route.

 

[98 SNAKE EATER]

Last year's entrance was on the far right, but the one on the left is also open......just gotta drive on the narrow path to get there

 

[Kernal]

There's an obvious typo in the FSM page above, 4 a) should read 9 ft-lbf (not 91). FWIW.

 

[jyepez]

my Lx is doing exactly the same thing! In addition when I shift the lever into "R" the "2nd" would lit.

 

[SmokingRocks]

it sounds like your switch is going bad, or misaligned or both. If my understanding is correct the switch also knows which gear is selected, and sends signal to the dash to light the appropriate indicator. This is how it was on my honda, I haven't looked at the FSM for this but that is my guess.