A couple days ago, my Excursion started skipping 2nd gear when driving in D. The RPMs will go up to 3500 or so before slamming into 3rd gear. Shifting in all other gears works fine. However, when manually shifting through the gears (1, 2, D), it finds 2nd gear and shifts fine.

Does anyone have any ideas on this before I take it to a trans shop? I am mechanically inclined when it comes to engines, but not an auto trans. Thanks in advance for any help.

Jason

 

The difference between automatic 2 and manual 2 is that there is a band that is applied along with the intermediate clutch for manual 2. In automatic 2 it is only the clutch. This tells me your intermediate clutch is probably finished.

What does the fluid look and smell like?

 

Could it also be a shift solenoid, Mark? My SSB went out and it would act similarly. I manually shifted from 1-2-D to get it to BTS to have him replace it.

In my case, the OD indicator on the shift lever would start flashing after one of the automatic upshifts from 1-3.

 

Good point, that's possible.

 

Thanks for the input guys. Fluid looks good, doesn't smell burnt. Could it also be a VB issue (stuck/dirty)?

Are the shift solenoids easily accessible? If so, I could rule that one out before I pay a trans shop to look into it.

 

Shift solenoid is easy to replace if you drop the pan. I had Brian at BTS do mine since he had rebuilt the tranny a few months before and I was able to drive it over to him. Took him all of 45 minutes and I was out the door.

The connector to the shift solenoid is at the rear-passenger side of the tranny and comes down from above. With a little work, you can pop it loose from under the truck and check the connections (water, corrosion, etc.) and put it back on. See if it makes any difference.

If you can pull codes, you can look for a "Shift Solenoid B" code (can't remember which one, exactly).

 

Turned out to be a broken spring in the VB.