I have a 1991 Dakota 4x4 with the 3.9L engine. The transmission problems I seem to be having is that it doesn't want to stay in OD and wants to downshift into drive at almost every incline. It also won't kickdown when I put the gas pedal all the way down. Does this sound like the cable adjustment or something different? What do I need to do to check it and what needs to be done to correctly adjust it? This is driving me crazy, so please respond ASAP with some help. Thanks in advance!!

 

That is somewhat normal. Over-drive is supposed to kick-on when going a steady speed (usually any constant speed over 30-35MPH) and kick-off when the engine rev's up. Soooo... if your going up an incline (to the point where the engine has to rev high enough) or you put the "pedal to the metal" it will (and should) kick out of over-drive. Note: if you consistanly drive in hilly regions (especially if you carry weight in the bed or tow) I suggest to turn over-drive off. Having the transmission constantly shifting into and out of OD is not good on the transmission.

Does the problem with it not kicking down occur only when its in OD, or does that not effect it? Try disabling OD (there should be a push-button). Than, confirm that locked out OD. Than see if down-shifts occur as needed according to throttle position.

 

I understand on how OD is suppose to work as I was a wheeled mechanic in the Army. It kicks off of OD on the smallest of inclines and even when going down hills as well. I can drive on a straight level road/Hwy and it keeps kicking off. On-off-on-off-on-off-on-off to the point it drives me nuts so I hit the button to turn it off completly. It's kicking off when it SHOULDN'T be. Fluid level is fine.

It also doesn't kick into low when you push the pedal to the floor, it will only take it out of OD, and when OD is off and you kick it down, all it does is give it more gas.

I thought maybe the throttle rod might need to be adjusted, but it didn't make one bit of difference on how I set it.

Would it be a relay, or does a '91 even have one? What about the kickdown band adjustment? I was told that it controls both up and down shifting?

Any thoughts/answers would be so helpful as I'm ready to say the hell with it and put a different transmission into it. But again, if something simpler, then I would rather do the simple fix first.

 

Well, I'm going to post instructions on how to adjust the: throttle, valve body, bands and gearshift. Except for the adjustments for the throttle (next post), all adjustments are the same for all automatic transmissions (information was the same in my 1990 and 1996 service manuals)
Sorry the pics don't look perfect, but, I do what I can with what I have [&:]
Please note: when adding transmission fluid, add ONLY ATF+3 or ATF+4. Ignore the service manual or what maybe printed in your owners manual. There's a TSB for this (TSB 21-004-04) that states that on 1989 and up Dakota automatic transmissions the prefered transmission fluid is ATF+4

Band adjustments:
[IMG]local://upfiles/948/C71A7D5A51B54DB4904DF28D31D236E6.jpg[/IMG]

Gearshift linkage adjustments:
[IMG]local://upfiles/948/1AD09A322F4D4066AC94A7D1F6823232.jpg[/IMG]

Valvebody adjustments:
[IMG]local://upfiles/948/6B51B0A3CF10405D80DEDAFE54E239C2.jpg[/IMG]

 

And heres the throttle adjustments

Older transmisisions:
[IMG]local://upfiles/948/C7DA5E4FBE4243D897EF045F7CDCA794.jpg[/IMG]

Newer transmissions:
[IMG]local://upfiles/948/3AA91181FA444903A56F7F48C07900BB.jpg[/IMG]

 

could someone over the years have put dexron 2 into it, from what ive read it screws up the shifting. my 89 says dexron 2 on the dip stick, but like was mentioned, atf4 is what it needs.

 

Yes, adding the wrong fluid can effect shifting, but I would find it odd if, without changing any fluid out, the shifting goes to crap all at once and it be the fault of the Dexron fluid instead of having ATF+X in it.
It could also just be a bad electricl connectioin (wires that short out sometimes, etc).
Hopefully someone can find out what solves these problems and post it here so we all know.