I am just curious if any one else has experienced this issue I am having.

My truck is a 92 318 2wd auto. I have it running great now that the computer has been replaced. The transmission shifts great and has the proper fluid level.

the issue is that overdrive will not engage unless the temperature is around 30 degrees F. or lower. Or if I have driven on the highway for a varying amount of miles some times it will drop in to 4th. Lock up does engage normally.

I don't know transmissions vary well so Im just going to give it to a shop to fix. Looking around online and asking other people I havent been able to find any one who has had the same or similar issue so I just thought id see if yall have experienced this problem or not.

 

Are you getting any codes? Does your truck have a trans temp sensor?

 

Completely normal. In my 96 owner's manual i there's an andendum that states it will not shift into overdrive if ambient temperatures are not warm enough to reduce the possibility of damage to the transmission. Once the transmission is warm enough it will shift into overdrive.

 

I believe the reason it takes a lot of time to warm the fluid in the Dakota is because
the front pump doesn't engage until a motivation gear (not Park) is selected.

My solution to remedy this during cold weather was to fill my trusty travel mug with
hot coffee, start the vehicle & place in Neutral, which also engages the front pump. After drinking the
cuppa' Joe I'd start my trip & the trans. would shift into overdrive a lot sooner because the fluid
was now warmed up & freely flowing YMMV. Good luck. I've never heard of any other solution
that properly addresses this 'problem'. Take time to enjoy your cuppa' Joe-5/6 minutes @ least.

 

I never thought of doing that. That's a good idea

 

No codes and I have no idea if this trans has a temp sensor or not.

 

Yea. the problem is it only works when the trans is cold. at 32 degrees or higher it will NOT shift into overdrive. at least not for awhile. Drove 20 miles at about 55 mph with the rpms close to 3k. Then when I got off the highway it dropped in to OD. Not normal.

 

I believe that if I tried that then I wouldn't have overdrive at all since the 'problem' is that the OD only works when it is cold. Alway a good idea to warm up cold vehicles before you drive them though. I use the smoke a cigarette method myself.

 

As a note -

Sonnax sells a "manual valve" that will let ATF flow into the converter in park. For a 42Rx/46Rx/A500/A518, it's part of the Sure Cure kit they sell.

RwP