199712valve

I just bought my 97 12 valve and it won't shift into third until about 40-45 on normal acceleration. Any thoughts on what's wrong?

joem

make sure you really mean 3rd, as what you describe is when the torque converter locks in over drive. Here are my shift points on mine at light throttle:

shifts into second early, 5-10mph- pretty crisp shift
shifts into 3rd just seconds after at around 15mph and its a soft shift barly felt- some miss it.
3-4 shift is around 35mph and again, soft.
the Over drive lockup is very harsh and hits at 45mph and the truck will rocket up to speed once locked. ( my truck will break the tires loose on wet pavement )

199712valve

It shifts once and then again a little before 50 and it feels like its going straight to overdrive.

joem

post up a video on youtube, sounds like a stock converter acting normal as when the high stall stock converter locks it feels like shifting a 5 speed from 3rd strait to 5th and that does indeed happen just after 45mph at light throttle. Here is mine under full throttle locking up at the 36 second mark- well past the 45 mph due to full throttle but gives you a idea of what the lockup sounds like
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIffOi2A_d4

199712valve

Do you want one of hard acceleration or normal?

joem

just normal from 0-60 should give us a good idea on what needs attention

199712valve

I got to fix the front end first before I do one. I just got to put on a tie rod and a steering gear box. But I should get them on by tomorrow. So ill post one as soon as I get done.

199712valve

Well I took it down the road yesterday and didn't take a video because I couldn't get it to shift at all. I was going 35 in first gear so I turned around and brought it home.

9812vram

Check trans fluid level
Check VSS (Vehicle Speed Sensor). Driver side mounted on the side of the OD case
After that you'll have to look into Governor pressure

199712valve

Ill check it this weekend

joem

have you dropped the pan and changed the filter yet? I have seen RE's be picky on dirty pans and cause strange shifting when there is junk roaming about

199712valve

It literally has 3k on rebuild so I doubt that's whats wrong but I think I might pull the transmission this weekend.

9812vram

What? Don't pull the trans until all the other stuff is checked out. Otherwise there's a good chance you'll pull it and find absolutely nothing wrong inside that can't be fixed with the trans still in the truck. There are several non-transmission-pulling issues that can cause you symptoms.

-Low or incorrect trans fluid
-Bad governor pressure sensor
-Bad governor pressure solenoid
-Corrosion, bad wiring, bent/damaged pin at trans wiring harness connector
-Faulty VSS or wiring
-Cracked valve body
-Cracked/warped governor pressure housing (common on stock parts when line pressure is turned up)
-Faulty PCM
-Bad connections at PCM
-Bad grounds (Is the engine grounded to the frame with a ground strap?)

There's a lot of things that can be fixed without pulling the trans. Trust me, not a cool feeling when you pull a non-shifting trans only to find the ASD relay was shot. Ask me how I know.... wait... no.... don't ask...

199712valve

Ill just make it easy and take it to a transmission shop. When the transmission was rebuilt they took out a check valve. I don't know what that is but I think it's a governer solenoid.

joem

98 ram has a great point the RE is all electronic, so some road grime in a connection would totally cause this!