Problem of the day #2 :D, transmission issue

[kis86]

Lately I've noticed my Jeep is shifting funny sometimes. For instance, I started it up this morning and had it run for a few minutes because it was about 18 degrees outside. I got in, and took off. I got on the road with a 40mph speed limit, got up to 40, and realized my rpms were at about 3k :???:

I looked at my engine temp gauge and it was in the middle area, not cold at all! After about 15-20 seconds it did shift into the next gear.

I usually stop at the fuel station nearby the get something to drink in the morning...so I put my turn signal on, start slowing down, and woah :shock: the Jeep down shifted too soon, making me go forward in my seat. Not a huge jerk or anything, just felt unnatural

It's been doing this off and on for a little while now. Is there a temp sensor in the transmission that isn't reading correctly? My transmission fluid looks great, smells fine and isn't low.

 

[SteelHeadz]

Possibly a governor presssure sensor. No SES lamp?

 

[kis86]

No lamp, I'll check for codes tonight. Do you know the part no. for the sensor, and would I want to replace the transducer at the same time? What exactly does the sensor do just for the sake of curiosity?

Maybe we should have our own category here SteelHeadz...where I have multiple problems per day and you help me lol I think I'm just bad luck for vehicles...although at least the Jeep is less expensive to fix!

 

[SteelHeadz]

That was just a guess. i wouldn't replace anything until you narrow down the symptoms and better yet a DTC will give us a definitive direction.

 

[kis86]

I checked codes...nothing stored. I have noticed it seems to do this after driving highway speeds. IE: drive home on regular roads and I'm fine, drive home on the interstate...once I get off and onto a normal road, it starts up with the weird downshifting and harder upshifting (around 3k).

 

[Utah_jeepster]

Ok not to ask the obvious but you did check the transmission fluid level? (While running and in neutral) The next question would be when was the last time you had your transmission serviced?
With it throwing no codes and this just started happening in the extreme cold you might have a little water in the fluid slowing the flow in the valve body when its extremely cold.
In the winter time its the motor that heats the transmission fluid up to operating temp way before the transmission itself can generate enough heat to run smoothly.

 

[kis86]

The fluid looks fine, not low and smells normal...it shifts fine most of the time, so it isn't consistent with any type of driving which tells me the transmission itself is probably ok. The temp here is about 60 degrees now so cold vs warm weather doesn't seem to make a difference either.

 

[Utah_jeepster]

well thanks for blowing my theory out of the water...LOL.
Still it might be time to a transmission service, R&R the pick-up filter, power flush. If nothing else you could go down to the stealer-ship and get a deep well pan for 50$ that comes with everything and have that thrown in at the same time.

 

[SteelHeadz]

And also, if you go that route. Might as well ask then to have their transmission specialist to check the CVI of the trans. and see if theres anything unusual on the values from the computer. The CVI readings can give out a lot of information and determine any possible internal concerns.

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

Have you replaced the speedo gear to correct the speedometer after inatalling larger tires?

 

[kis86]

Speedo gear wasn't replaced, but the jeep came with 29s from the factory, so 31 isn't much to add right?

 

[SteelHeadz]

Follow the white rabbit. http://www.go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoSpeedoGears.htm