Transmission feels wierd... Are these symptoms normal?

[SilverBullet75]

Hi,
I'm curious to see if you all experience the same thing I do with my transmission. And no, this is not yet another mode selector topic...

It feels almost like I have 5 gears instead of 4. As I accelerate, it goes from first to second fine... then gear 3, then what feels/sounds like 3.25 (soft), 3.75 (soft), then 4 (firm). When it does this, it feels as if it were a manual trans with a clutch with oil on the disk... kind of a slip-hold feeling... not a firm shift-to-gear feeling. It does this on "kick-down" as well. Is this an overdrive sensation? Is my transmission slipping? Maybe this is normal? Please let me know if this is something to worry about.
Thanks,
---JIM---

[ameetw]

Maybe it's time for a transmission fluid change. I have slow uneasy gear change in my Honda. changed the transmission fluid, all works well now. Not sure if it is similar but worth checking it out.

[MrCrowley]

I cannot 100% say that you dont have a problem, but the phenomenon that you are describing is most likely produced by the fact that our transmission is slightly different than most others. Those "extra" gear ratios are in fact not extra gear changes, but are caused by a lock up torque converter. Under low load conditions it will lock up to provide a direct drive which for intents and purposes is like a manual in that there is no torque converter slippage. It is most noticeable in 4th gear. The best way to experience this to really feel whats happening is to drive fairly grandma-like at about 55 mph approaching a grade. If you very gently push the accelerator as you start to go up the hill, you can observe the reactions from the transmission and torque converter. The first change will be a lesser rpm rise as the torque converter unlocks. Next will come a larger rpm increase when the tranny goes to third. It feels like you have downshifted to 2nd gear, but in fact one was an unlocked TC and the other was the downshift and you are now in third. You can do about the same experiment accelerating from a stop if you grandma it again. You will "feel" more than 4 gears again.


This stuff is great for confusing passengers. I convinced someone one time that it has a 7 speed!

If you havent changed you tranny fluid in the last 30,000-60,000 miles I would do so. I just dropped 2,000 bucks on my wifes Trooper tranny. She thought that since she never did much service on her previous vehicles (small cars) that the Troop didnt need it either. I reminded and reminded her until I was sick of it. I guess 90,000 miles was long enough before it started slipping. Lesson learned. :(

[psychos2]

sounds like your feeling the torque converter lock up.if this is the case then it is normal. shawn

[SilverBullet75]

MrCrowley, you just described it to the T!
I'm glad that it is a normal thing... (BTW, I replaced the fluid about 3k ago).

Do you think Tone's Trans Interceptor will make this phenomena easier to live with?

[AnalogVX]

I get the same thing. It's the torque converter locking up in 4th.