auto trans issue. wont auto go into the next higher gear

Jason1976 · 07-17-2009, 10:43 AM

auto trans issue. wont auto go into the next higher gear until the transmission warms up. I will be going about 25mph at 2k rpm and at 35 mph it is going at around 3k rpm. if i put it into low 2 then it goes at about 2200 rpm at 35mph. after it warms up it shifts good but after driving it so long then it starts to stay in to high of a gear on it's own. and i have to downshift by hand. what would make this issue happen? or what should I check.

I already replaced the transmission filter and fluid.

Masterd · 07-17-2009, 04:58 PM

If its not shifting 1-2 when cold, it could be the governor.

I'd also adjust the bands, if they need it.

Jason1976 · 07-17-2009, 05:55 PM

to tell the truth i don't even know how to do that. I was wondering if it was something simple i could do. the explorer has 115k miles. when it starts shifting good after it warms up in shifts nice. but i am wondering what would make it do that.

I am not even sure what part is the governor. I saw some parts in the bottom when I changed the filter and fluid that had wires going to them. I wasn't sure if they could be the issue or not. they look like they would be easy to replace.

Masterd · 07-17-2009, 06:50 PM

The wired things are the servos that control 3-4 shift and TC lockup. If the tranny acts normally when it warms up, It'd be unlikely that those two would be the culprit(s).

However, the governor (located inside the tail shaft housing) for sure causes cold shifting problems. It gets dirty and scored and wont move properly. Its not a hard job, but it takes some time none the less.

How did the fluid look when you drained it? Red / Brown / Black?

Did the filter or bottom of the pan have any residue or metal shavings?

Jason1976 · 07-17-2009, 06:52 PM

it was red. with some flakes. I cleaned the bottom of the pan good before I put it back in. but remember i said after it gets to warm then it doesn't want to down shift right. but if i turn the motor off and stop and put it back into gear then it will shift good again. sometimes i have to step on it to get it to down shift and other times it wont and I have to put it in low one or low two on my own. I dont know enough about them to take the housing apart. looks like I will have to take it to the garage. some days it doesn't act up for staying in to high of a gear and other days it does.

Masterd · 07-17-2009, 07:06 PM

Sounds like a band adjustment might be a good start then.

The only time I've ever had the tranny not downshift right is when the governor was bad and it was cold....IF it would shift to 2 by itself, it wouldn't always auto shift back to 1 until it warmed up.

Jason1976 · 07-19-2009, 09:25 PM

it doesn't like to downshift until it's warm enough. today i didn't drive far and i slowed down shortly after it started to up shift and it wouldn't downshift. I had to put it down in low two when i made a turn and started to go up a hill. then i put it back in over drive right away and it was fine after that. could the transmission computer make this happen or the speed censer? I don’t think its anything to do with the bands. I can stop and put it in park when it doesn’t want to down shift right and put it back in drive and it still acts up. But if I turn the explorer off and restart it and put it in drive then it will act normal again. Of course this is after it’s been warmed up.

Masterd · 07-19-2009, 09:38 PM

Try adjusting the kickdown cable then as well.

07-17-2009, 10:43 AM	#1
Jason1976 Wannabe Elite Explorer 1992 xlt Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 23 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	auto trans issue. wont auto go into the next higher gear auto trans issue. wont auto go into the next higher gear until the transmission warms up. I will be going about 25mph at 2k rpm and at 35 mph it is going at around 3k rpm. if i put it into low 2 then it goes at about 2200 rpm at 35mph. after it warms up it shifts good but after driving it so long then it starts to stay in to high of a gear on it's own. and i have to downshift by hand. what would make this issue happen? or what should I check. I already replaced the transmission filter and fluid.

07-17-2009, 04:58 PM	#2
Masterd Wannabe Elite Explorer Upland, CA 1993 Explorer Sport Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 765 Vehicle Specs	If its not shifting 1-2 when cold, it could be the governor. I'd also adjust the bands, if they need it.

07-17-2009, 05:55 PM	#3
Jason1976 Wannabe Elite Explorer 1992 xlt Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 23 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	to tell the truth i don't even know how to do that. I was wondering if it was something simple i could do. the explorer has 115k miles. when it starts shifting good after it warms up in shifts nice. but i am wondering what would make it do that. I am not even sure what part is the governor. I saw some parts in the bottom when I changed the filter and fluid that had wires going to them. I wasn't sure if they could be the issue or not. they look like they would be easy to replace.

07-17-2009, 06:50 PM	#4
Masterd Wannabe Elite Explorer Upland, CA 1993 Explorer Sport Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 765 Vehicle Specs	The wired things are the servos that control 3-4 shift and TC lockup. If the tranny acts normally when it warms up, It'd be unlikely that those two would be the culprit(s). However, the governor (located inside the tail shaft housing) for sure causes cold shifting problems. It gets dirty and scored and wont move properly. Its not a *hard* job, but it takes some time none the less. How did the fluid look when you drained it? Red / Brown / Black? Did the filter or bottom of the pan have any residue or metal shavings?

07-17-2009, 06:52 PM	#5
Jason1976 Wannabe Elite Explorer 1992 xlt Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 23 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	it was red. with some flakes. I cleaned the bottom of the pan good before I put it back in. but remember i said after it gets to warm then it doesn't want to down shift right. but if i turn the motor off and stop and put it back into gear then it will shift good again. sometimes i have to step on it to get it to down shift and other times it wont and I have to put it in low one or low two on my own. I dont know enough about them to take the housing apart. looks like I will have to take it to the garage. some days it doesn't act up for staying in to high of a gear and other days it does.

07-17-2009, 07:06 PM	#6
Masterd Wannabe Elite Explorer Upland, CA 1993 Explorer Sport Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 765 Vehicle Specs	Sounds like a band adjustment might be a good start then. The only time I've ever had the tranny not downshift right is when the governor was bad and it was cold....IF it would shift to 2 by itself, it wouldn't always auto shift back to 1 until it warmed up.

07-19-2009, 09:25 PM	#7
Jason1976 Wannabe Elite Explorer 1992 xlt Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 23 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	it doesn't like to downshift until it's warm enough. today i didn't drive far and i slowed down shortly after it started to up shift and it wouldn't downshift. I had to put it down in low two when i made a turn and started to go up a hill. then i put it back in over drive right away and it was fine after that. could the transmission computer make this happen or the speed censer? I don’t think its anything to do with the bands. I can stop and put it in park when it doesn’t want to down shift right and put it back in drive and it still acts up. But if I turn the explorer off and restart it and put it in drive then it will act normal again. Of course this is after it’s been warmed up.

07-19-2009, 09:38 PM	#8
Masterd Wannabe Elite Explorer Upland, CA 1993 Explorer Sport Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 765 Vehicle Specs	Try adjusting the kickdown cable then as well.