hey guys,

truck description:
1997 crewcab 7.3 psd 4x4 220,000
auto trans (rebuilt unknown)
4" banks turbo back
superchip
k&n

i will explain to the best of my abbility,this is my first deisel and i love it!.now the problem.when first starting the truck putting it in drive or reverse it takes a second to go into gear........then wile driving say i hit a road doing 55mph rite after start up......it will take a little bit for it to reach overdrive.......like stays in drive for longer than normal?? bear with me..........after about 3 to 5min. of run time time it will finally hit overdrive........temp is rising.........ok.now we are at normal operating temp. and i'm coming to a stop sign.take off 1st and second is normal then once the auto shifts through the rest of the gears it shifts very quickly.......... i know sounds weird.think of it like this,lol.starting from stop.1st..............2nd........................t hird.fourth....fifth..........overdrive???

 

The staying in OD longer when cold is normal. Actually its the toque converter that doesn't lock until the trans reaches a certain temp. That is perfectly normal. Its also very possible that you other shift is normal though not desireable. a normal shift pattern especially for a NAW code PCM is 1, 2nd 3rd then very soon after the 3rd gear shif the TC locks. Almost at the same time. then the OD shift point later.

For the delay into D or R it could be a few things. First is check you fluid level. could be low. Another could be torque converter drain back. There is a anti drain back valve at the forward most cooling line (I think thats where its at) it could be bad. My previous truck had the same problem. replaced the valve and it didn't fix it. Finally the problem just went away. ?????? Hopefully Madvan will see this and have some more info. He know alot more about trannies than I do.

 

thanks beggs!!

 

how long is the delayed engagement? it is a semi electronic trans. the engagement wont be instant but shouldnt take long.

tj is dead on with the tc engagent feeling while cold, the converter wont engage until the trans fluid temp hits a desired level and you will run higher rpms until that point.

i am confused on your shifts though, you just counted out a 6 speed in your post? the superchip gives you a little different shift pattern than stock but not that different...lol
under a normal light throttle take off from a light the shifts should be 1-2, 2-3, tc engaged at 35, 3-4.

at a more aggressive take-off the shifts should only go 1-2, 2-3, 3-tc/4 .

and on the "shifts very quickly when warm" how do you mean? the trans shouldnt drag the gears out under normal driving, you should be in overdrive by 40 mph and about 1000-1300 rpm. the speed will vary a little depending on if you have 3.55's or 4.10's.

typicly the shifts wont take long to start, if i recall correctly the rpms dont get much over 1500 before it shifts unless i am on the throttle

 

lol,my shifting patter is not accurate i know,lol.it seems to me when it is cold it shifts normal and goes through the gears fine other than the last gear kicking in taking awhile....not a big deal.

when it is warm is when it feels like it shifts through the gears very fast???? i haven't really payed close attention to rpm's cold vs warm it just seems like if i were racing someone i would have a better chance off the line when cold???? sorry i dont know maybe it is just me??

 

the only major difference between cold andhot shifts should be the torque converter activation.
you should run better on a hot engine due to the oil fired injectors, cold engines are typicly slugish to respond

 

i'm sure you are 100% correct.......its probably me it just seems shifting is better cold for some odd reason?? no big deal thanks!

 

dont throw options out yet, i have never seen or ridden in your truck, i am just trying to get more info about the possible problem.

its possible that you are also feeling the shifts get sloppy as the trans fluid heats up and thins out, do you have any mods done to the trans?

 

i don't think so?? the thinning of the fluid could very well be it as well.the other day a 1998 body big lifted chevy with 36's stock 454 stock gears, (buddys) pulled up next to me.we took of i had him untill my tranny made the third gear change then he pulled on me!! pi$$ed me off!!