I have trecently picked up a clean 1989 Ranger 4x4 automatic 2.9 with approximately l50,000 miles. the truck probably sat for about a year before I got it.

My problem is that the truck will not go into overdrive at highway speed. At 55 miles per hour I am turning about 3400 rpms. I know from my old Bronco 2 that at that spppd I should be running somewhere in the 2500 rpm at that speed. I had the truck at 55/60 miles per hour for about an hour the other day. After about 30 minutes you could feel the overdrive engaging and disengaging ( you could also see the tack swing between 3400 rpm and 2400 rpms) The truck finnaly went into overdrive for the rest of the trip--however the next day still had the old problem of no overdrive. I dropped the pan and replaced the filter and fluid (which was not bad) The fluid was still red and did not smell burned.

In some of the other threads I have learned that in l989 the overdrive shift fucttion was electric and not vacumm controlled?? Some members have suggested that a shift problem could be caused by a bad throttle control sensor--but I think that a bad tps would manifest itself in more problems than just tranny shift. How would you test for a bad tps??

Could my overdrive shift problem be caused by another sensor?? Just what does the speed sensor do?? I think that is the part--there appears to be a sensor attached to the speedo cable that goes into the transfer case. If not it==where is the speed sensor located??

Any help or ideas would be appreciated.

 

What a headache I have.

Stopped at two "friendly" transmission shops today to discuss my overdrive problem. i am not sure we were talking the same language.

According to them there are no sensors that affect the overdrive function. They kept talking about vacumm, bands etc. Bojth wanted to set up a "free" inspection. Got the feeling that I should not bend over in front of these guys.

Since it is doubtful that I will find an honest transmission shop, can you guys tell me which sensors can affect the overdrive function.

I know that the trhottle pjosition sensor can affect it; but other than the overdrive function the truck runs great. Could the speed sensor?? located on the drivers side of the transaxle unit (has what appears to be the speedometer cable and a electrical connection)be the problem?

 

I have the same problem in an '89 Ranger I just picked up. Did you ever find a solution?

 

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