Worsening Shifting Problem

Todd · November 21, 2001

I started a thread a couple weeks back regarding shifting issues I was having on my '01 1500 4x2 with 3500 miles. The shifting problems seem to be worsening by every couple hundred miles it seems. My first to second shift at about 17 mph, is getting harsher and harsher. Yesterday sitting in traffic, the first to second shift shuddered so bad, that the backrest of the passenger seat started to shake as the truck shifted. The symptom seems to worsen when doing around town or traffic stop and go driving. It doesnt initially start to shudder between gears, but worsens if I dont get up to a high rate of speed for a while. It has already been to the dealer twice for this, and they claim none of the current TSB's out, will apply to my symptoms, and are trying to sell me on the old "everything performs normal" scam. I have an appointment to have a mechanic ride with me on Friday. Any ideas before I go to the dealership again?

MountaineerTom · November 22, 2001

First off, welcome to the site. Glad to have you here.

Having a mechanic ride with you will be a great help. I've had other things that they couldn't duplicate, but were finally able to notice when I took them for a ride and pointed out to them every time it was doing what I took it in for. If there are certain conditions that it always happens under, try to duplicate them. Like temperature, cold engine, warm engine, etc. For example, if it happens right after you start it up in the morning, on a cold engine, you may want to leave it there overnight so it's cold when they start it the next morning.

Good luck.

Shaners · November 22, 2001

The only quick guess I could have is that there is a problem with the tow/haul interface with the tranny computer. It sounds like the tranny line pressure is higher than it should be. Does it shift harder when tow/haul is engaged? It should actually shift later and very hard when engaged and running empty. If it is shifting the same but only at higher rpm's when engaged then the tranny isn't coming out of the higher line pressure mode...

In a nutshell that's my guess...