Background
This is my first post. 1996 f 150 xlt, 4wd, 5.8, automatic trans with 184k. Owned the truck for just under a year.

Problem
This sucker won't shift into 3rd gear. I'll get to second and continue to rev higher and higher until I can almost see the $$ flyin out the tailpipe.

Additionally, throttle position sensor codes thrown. Low circuit and out of range. That's a cheap fix, but is it THE fix? P0122 and p0120

Temporary "solution"
What separates this issue from other threads I've read is that I CAN shift into 3rd gear. Only problem is, at any point during 2nd gear I can shift from Drive to neutral and back to drive again to convince her to shift into 3rd at the appropriate time. The remainder of the drive is normal. I can go all the way up and down the gears in that drive as designed with the neutral then drive trick again.

Possible solutions
Solenoid pack?
Valve missing a bearing?
Valves need to be cleaned and reconditioned?
Tp sensor maybe?

I'm curious to find out who has had this issue and what did they find to be the underlying issue.

Thanks for your time
Josh

 

The fist rule of fixing ANY transmission problem is to always fix all engine problems first. Fix the TP problem and the trans problem might be gone, too.

As for a valve missing a bearing, that's a new one on me. What does it mean? If you are going to attempt any of the "repairs" you listed (except the TP sensor) I predict you'll just be wasting your time and your money. But they are yours to waste....

 

Listen to Mark, he's got the right answer. If there aren't codes for the A/T but there are codes for the engine, start with those. My money is on the the PCM not seeing the right input signal from the TPS (which is an input for shifting the A/T) and not giving you your third shift until you do the "temporary solution".

Take a meter and carefully backprobe the wires to the TPS. You can find circuit values via the mighty Google (or we can get them if you ask nicely).

 

Thanks for the input. We shall see what this tps swap does.