If anyone e has a 01-04 Dakota automatic 2wd 6cyl.42re.-
please tell me your specs on at what mph your gears shift please.
I'm getting mixed info online .

If you have RPM, at each shift also ,that would be greatly appreciated too!

I just want a basic guide from other owners with similar trucks.

Thanks

 

Your shift points will depend on a few things. Throttle position, engine load, line pressure, and shifter settings. Line pressure is controlled by the TV cable at the throttle body, opposite the throttle cable.

Ideally, you want WOT shift points right at redline. My 98 3.9L shifts at about 5000 RPM at WOT in every gear. This is controlled by the TV cable, it moves your shift points. Too tight, and it wont shift out, too loose and you get soft early shifts and low RPM shifts at WOT.

Part throttle shift points are PCM calculated by load and TPS. They should be fine given your wot shifts are set correctly. Otherwise, it may be a physical issue, like 1-2 hunting might be the governor pressure solenoid, like my problem.

As far as my experience, outside of my wot shifts, 30-40% throttle gives me firm shifts around 2k or so rpm. Light throttle about 1600-1700 rpm. Hard throttle, but not full, say 60-70% shifting happens upwards 3k or higher rpm.

Edit: When your torque converter locks up, you'll see a couple hundred rpm drop, sort of like a shift. However this doesn't happen until load is reduced or power is high enough for the pcm to call for it. The TC locks up in 3rd when OD is off, and 4th, with OD on (normal) driving. When in manual 1st or 2nd, TC never locks.

 

In basic start stop driving .where theres stop an gos like city roads .
what mph does yours shift .?

Like for example 1700 rpm at 1st to 2nd around 24mph
Or 200rpm at 34mph - 3rd to 4th

I know I need to look at TV cable too.
note I have 16 in on tires245/70/16 ,I understand this factors it too

 

The speed isn't really something you need to factor in. Any changes after the transmission affect the speed, without changing the RPM. Differential ratio, tires as you stated, and even the torque convert in minimal way. Despite the torque converter TECHNICALLY being before the transmission, the PCM is reading the engine RPM for info (some in the output sensor as well as I recall, but still). Even equally equipped trucks can be slightly different with TC variances, since it's a fluid coupling. Also depends on high stall or low stall converters as well, but that's really cutting hairs as anyone who changes TCs is generally looking at WOT shifts anyway, wanting higher stall to get the RPMs into the power zone faster before taking off or shifting.

Experience? My truck has a 3.55 open rear diff and 235/75/R15s standing at right about 29" tall. In stop/go with traffic (where you can only mostly rest your foot on the gas), My shifts are low, 1-2 happens at 12mph, 2-3 about 20mph, and 3-4 at around 30mph, all about 1400-1500 RPM. Anything past feather throttle, say 20-30% pretty much lines it up as 1-2 at 20mph, 2-3 at 30mph, and 3-4 at 40mph, around 1700-2000 RPM, TC lockup happens at 45 in OD, or 35 with OD off at light throttle, heavy throttle of course changes it.

 

Skree has you covered. No 2 trucks will shift alike.

Valve body gasket, band settings, clutch wear, line pressure, TV cable, TPS, and many other variables set the shift point.

 

my 2004 3.7 RWD
1st to 2nd shift would hang to long then hit hard. i cleaned the battery terminals and that helped significantly
I then replaced the ATF fluid.
It now shifts very smoothly.
My tire diameter is roughly 28.5
I will note the shift points and repost them here.

 

Thanks .
I never thought about battery terminal effecting shift .
Will double check that !
Mine is very light an I'm not a heavy gasser so as going into 1st 8mph ish 1500rpm if I dont stay strong on gas it may have a tiny hesitation .But not every time
Tightened TV cable.still need to adjust front band.
Seems.a bit slow in shift timing an lite shift.I was hoping for firmer shift after taking the little slack off that.I found in TV cable.