Radical Shifting
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 183
Likes: 12
Radical Shifting
I bought this truck ('99 w/ auto) knowing it's got gremlins, but got it for really cheap. At first the lighting wasn't working properly. I tracked it down to being a bad blinker switch and GEM. Now that I've swapped that out, all my lighting issues are resolved. HOWEVER...now the thing is shifting REDICULOUSLY hard. I've tested it by really gently easing into the gas and even letting off when I want it to shift, and it does...but still just as hard. It was not doing this before.
Does the transmission have a separate controller or does it use one ECM shared with the engine? Would it be tied in with the GEM, and needs time to 'learn'? I don't want to shell my drive train on top of everything else.
Thoughts?
Thanks!
Does the transmission have a separate controller or does it use one ECM shared with the engine? Would it be tied in with the GEM, and needs time to 'learn'? I don't want to shell my drive train on top of everything else.
Thoughts?
Thanks!
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 183
Likes: 12
I will recheck the fuses, I did check them during the troubleshooting of the original gremlins. But I won't rule that out at this point.
The OD button isn't flashing and works fine. That was one thing that I did check.
One other thing that I just thought of, the stall appears to spin pretty high when taking off, even if I'm tender footing it. Or maybe my minds eye is emphasizing it due to the issue...I don't know. But taking off, it seemed to spin up to about 3K before engaging, and it hits hard.
The OD button isn't flashing and works fine. That was one thing that I did check.
One other thing that I just thought of, the stall appears to spin pretty high when taking off, even if I'm tender footing it. Or maybe my minds eye is emphasizing it due to the issue...I don't know. But taking off, it seemed to spin up to about 3K before engaging, and it hits hard.
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,696
Likes: 2,617
From: SE Florida
That's usually a sign of a dead transmission.
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Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 183
Likes: 12
LOL...you're just FULL of good news! 
I'm not real convinced that it's 'dead', because it shifted just fine the day I parked it. The last time I drove it I temporarily got around my gremlins by putting a jumper wire on the tail lights to give me brake lights. I drove about 40 miles round trip to pick up a slide in camper. It shifted smooth 100% of the time. The only problem it had was no tail lights/blinkers. It gets parked, 'rewired', and now it's shifting like a drag car. I won't rule it out by any means (ugh).
I'm not real convinced that it's 'dead', because it shifted just fine the day I parked it. The last time I drove it I temporarily got around my gremlins by putting a jumper wire on the tail lights to give me brake lights. I drove about 40 miles round trip to pick up a slide in camper. It shifted smooth 100% of the time. The only problem it had was no tail lights/blinkers. It gets parked, 'rewired', and now it's shifting like a drag car. I won't rule it out by any means (ugh).
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Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 183
Likes: 12
update...
Ok, this dang thing is gonna have me in the funny farm soon.
I checked the fluid...good. DIRTY, but full. Definitely time for a trans service.
I individually checked every fuse, and also tested every relay in both the engine and under dash panels. Everything was good. I got out the mechanic stethoscope, as I recalled hearing a quick clickity click behind the dash, in the area of the stereo. When I turned the key over, no sound. Hmmm...
I decided to take it for a test drive and carefully note it's exact behavior. It shifted PERFECT every time.
Not that I'm complaining, but C'MON!!
Then I noticed that it's losing antifreeze fast now. THAT'S NEW!... It was pooling up on top of the intake manifold. Know that out of habit, anytime I pop the hood, I just naturally take note of the coolant level of any vehicle. The other day when I wrapped up the wiring issue, I reconnected the battery and the fluid was only about 1/2" from the full cold mark. After the drive tonight, there was only like 2" of coolant from the bottom showing. Along with the dribble trail down the culdesac. I had my son alternating throttle while I looked and I couldn't see it leak anywhere. Time for a leak test.
I checked the fluid...good. DIRTY, but full. Definitely time for a trans service.
I individually checked every fuse, and also tested every relay in both the engine and under dash panels. Everything was good. I got out the mechanic stethoscope, as I recalled hearing a quick clickity click behind the dash, in the area of the stereo. When I turned the key over, no sound. Hmmm...
I decided to take it for a test drive and carefully note it's exact behavior. It shifted PERFECT every time.
Not that I'm complaining, but C'MON!!Then I noticed that it's losing antifreeze fast now. THAT'S NEW!... It was pooling up on top of the intake manifold. Know that out of habit, anytime I pop the hood, I just naturally take note of the coolant level of any vehicle. The other day when I wrapped up the wiring issue, I reconnected the battery and the fluid was only about 1/2" from the full cold mark. After the drive tonight, there was only like 2" of coolant from the bottom showing. Along with the dribble trail down the culdesac. I had my son alternating throttle while I looked and I couldn't see it leak anywhere. Time for a leak test.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
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From: Long Island USA
That's weird that it shifts OK now... maybe something you checked had a bad connection and now it's solid?
As for the coolant, it's on TOP of the intake, or it's down in the valley under the intake? There is a crossover pipe that runs from the back of the water pump to (I think) the back of the intake. That pipe is known to rot out, or the piece of hose that connects it to the water pump and intake rots.
As for the coolant, it's on TOP of the intake, or it's down in the valley under the intake? There is a crossover pipe that runs from the back of the water pump to (I think) the back of the intake. That pipe is known to rot out, or the piece of hose that connects it to the water pump and intake rots.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 183
Likes: 12
Thanks! That's actually 'good' news. I was beginning to worry that it was something really serious! I am noticing it pooling up big time just to the right of the front on the passenger side head. Hard to explain. I'll just post a picture tonight. I was trying to google the cross over hose. Is that what it's actually called? I found nada.
Thanks!
Thanks!
