I'm had problems left and right with my truck for a while now. I just recently got everything either professionally rebuilt or replaced, and it drove great for about 2 weeks before another problem arose. It's like I cant catch a break! Here's my problem: After dumping close to 5 grand into repairs and new parts, plus just moving into a new place- I'm flat broke, with a broken truck. I'd love to take it somewhere, but I honestly just cant afford the repairs. I have good mechanical knowledge but I cannot figure this issue out for ANYTHING. Anyways, I've been a member here for a while and used to post pretty regularly so I've seen help come in the nicest ways here from neighboring members- so I guess i'm looking to ask for some help here. I can afford to pay, as well as assist someone in the repair within reason. I just cant afford shop rates right now. Anyone local to frederick with some spare time?

I'm hunting down a problem with my overdrive. The trans wont shift 1-2-3 very well unless I manually shift it. It seems like it wants to jump from 1-3 as quickly as possible. To make things worse, it wont shift into overdrive at all.

I dont know how to test the controlling components myself in this situation, and a few local shops quoted me $100-$120 just to diagnose the problem. Any help, advice, etc would be greatly appreciated!

 

Have you replaced the governor pressure solenoid and sensor in the trans? Classic symptoms of those parts sticking. Not sure what you had replaced/rebuilt but the trans was part of it, I'd be hitting the trans shop and asking why. I do believe you can verify with pressure tests but I'm not sure of the exact procedure or numbers you should see to verify this. I've been reading this board for a long time though, and almost every time an auto has trouble shifting it is those two parts.

 

I see you have a 97 truck, a TPS failure is also a common problem with erratic shifting. Mine acted much the same and I was able to trouble shoot it to the TPS. Bought a new one and been happy as a clam ever since.

There are some old threads where some guys actually drilled a hole in the TPS in the proper place and sprayed contact cleaner in it and sealed the hole back up, it actually helped for a short time. The contacts do wear out though so at best that is a short term repair if it works at all.

I seem to recall the guy that did it, had another one as well and mainly did it just to see if it worked. You can remove the TPS and hook it to an ohm meter and tell pretty quickly if it is bad by the erratic movement of the needle as you turn the ****.

Like sea drive, my guess is either the signal is bad to the solenoids or they are sticking causing your problems.

 

Thanks Lary, never knew that is what fed the sensors. One of the two issues ought to resolve your issue. Please let us know too so we can all learn.

 

have you tried a lock-up switch for the overdrive unit? I am just up the road from you if you need any help. I would check the tps,instal the lck-up switch,replace the solenoid in the trans, and I can get a good working pcm for a 97 if you want to try that. Rob

 

Thank you guys so much for the tips. Rpainter- I may have to take you up on your offer to help me out with the switch when you've got some free time. I'd gladly pay for your trip and throw in a 12 pack or something. I'm right off rt 15/340 and dont really have the confidence to cut pcm wires without feeling like im screwing something up, especially with the millions of wires coming out of those harnesses. I'm gonna pull the TPS and test it with an ohm meter tomorrow to see if its giving a smooth reading and go from there. As far as the other switches/sensors, I have no idea how to test those but thanks everybody for a point in the right direction!

 

just give me a hollar and we will set somethink up. and it is best to test the tps on the truck. connect the ohm meter on the wire and slowly move the throttle. the numbers should increase slowly and not jump or skip a lot of volts. if so that means the tps has a dead spot and needs replaced. Rob