Transmission Shifting issue: need help please

[creeg]

Hi,
I have an issue with my shifting, and want to confirm that it is the "Transmission mode switch", or if it is something else.

What I am experiencing seems to happen at around 26/27mph, almost always on level or near-level ground. I will be driving along, not accelerating too aggressively, and right around 26 mph, it seems like the transmission misses a shift to the next gear. I end up revving the engine in order to keep accelerating.

I then have to back off the gas so that the car drops back down in speed below 26 mph. Then, I can usually accelerate again past 26 and it will shift into the next gear that it missed the first time.

Is this the "Transmission mode switch", or something else?

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Thank you.

[Triathlete]

When the trans mode switch goes bad the USUAL symthoms are hard shifting and the gear lights on the dash go crazy.

[VxSport]

Well this sounds very famillar. It happened to us several years ago, right after I purchased our VX used and mildly abused (not maintained). The bad thing is.... i can't tell you at all what the problem is or was. I drained out as much atf fluid out of the trans and replaced with new and added Lucas Trans slip (don't remember the full name) atf additive.
I only remember it doing it twice ever, and it hasn't done it in 20K since.

How many miles on VX? last atf filter change?

couple of ideas..... keep us all informed... good luck

[CowboyErik]

don't drive that car, draink that transmission, main pan, secondard pan, drain the intercooler, install a new filter; I let mine drip out fluid for a week on news paper, I changed the paper daily; used air to force out more; filled with 2 gallons of ATF fluid! That Lucas Slip fix does work if the clutchs aren't totalled! phonograph everything, see my photos for tips; also other procedures and PDF files on here for this;

[creeg]

thanks everyone-

I will get it to the mechanic in about 2 weeks (my girls car is in the shop now).

I will keep you posted.

Thanks
Craig

[evillecutter]

mine has never missed a gear but i do find that sometimes that the shift point of 30mph in this vehicle makes me have to go a little faster just so i can get into the higher gear - in other words, if i drive at 26 mph it will never upshift unless i go faster - if i go 30mph it will upshift and then i can drive 26mph as long as i want in that same gear

[creeg]

thanks Evillecutter-
Mine is quite a bit more pronounced than that, but it sounds like its in the same ballpark.
I just end up being in the lower gear, unable to shift up correctly- the engine revs to try to make the car faster and will continue into the red if I would let it.

[Home_Sauce]

Mine just started doing the exact same thing....at about 105k miles. Has anyone with this problem ever taken it to a mechanic and diagnosed the problem?

[creeg]

Mine just started doing the exact same thing....at about 105k miles. Has anyone with this problem ever taken it to a mechanic and diagnosed the problem?

Home_sauce,
Check out this thread, as it MAY resolve your issue

http://www.vehicross.info/forums/sho...elector+switch

[Home_Sauce]

Home_sauce,
Check out this thread, as it MAY resolve your issue

http://www.vehicross.info/forums/sho...elector+switch

Did it solve the issue for you? Thanks for the link, I will try and do it this weekend. Seems like something I can handle with my limited mechanical skills....

[rowhard]

mine has never missed a gear but i do find that sometimes that the shift point of 30mph in this vehicle makes me have to go a little faster just so i can get into the higher gear - in other words, if i drive at 26 mph it will never upshift unless i go faster - if i go 30mph it will upshift and then i can drive 26mph as long as i want in that same gear

mine does the same. I just back off ever so slightly and it will upshift. Acts like it is a vacuum problem but I checked the book and no reference to vacuum mentioned.

[creeg]

Yep, that sounds like the problem Im having.
I was able to catch it in action- but its a very shaky video (sorry about that)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LW_X...ature=youtu.be

It even trips the "check trans" light. You can see how it misses the shift at 27 mph, then revs up to trip the check trans. It usually doesnt go as far as tripping the check trans light, but you get the idea of what is going on.

If it was just a sporadic thing, I would not care as much. But it happens multiple times, EVERY time I drive my car. Its very frustrating, and Im worried Im causing damage to my transmission.

If anyone has any suggestions, Im open to ideas.

[Y33TREKker]

Does it make any difference if you change the current position of the Power Mode switch? (Didn't see it's indicator light on the dash so assuming you're running full time with it off?)

[jasonm621]

If there is a prob with the shift mode selector switch the ECM will but the transmission in a "limp mode" You'll have banging shifts, aparently this is to keep the transmission clutches from being damaged or make sure the transmission doesnt get thrown in reverse when its going 20mph? Youll usually get a hint if the selector switch is going out as your putting the transmission in gear and the P-R-N-D-3-2-L lights on the dash may dance around for just a split second. Typically it will make you raise an eyebrow and if youre like me shrug a shoulder and drive off. long story short i had a shift selector switch go out due to the "shift selector switch shaft seal" (say the 10 times!) gave out. no damage to the transmission but shortly after i got the banging shifts i noticed smoke behind me certainly not a good thing. a quick crawl under the car and noticed the exhaust pipe that goes right next to the selector shift was smoking with tranny oil... The mechanic said that the shift selector usually fails because it gets too hot from being so close to the exhaust or gets too wet from years of splashing water...
just figured id throw out a "this happened to me" story for anyone that could use the info. hope the lines get cleaned out. When you flush & fill use mobile1 synthetic ATF. Its worth the extra $40 just for piece of mind knowing your running the best stuff you can through the tranny...

[creeg]

thanks Jason-
sounds like I do NOT have the shift mode selector switch issue then. Thank you for clarifying!