Question for those with more experience than me...
I'm wondering if my kickdown needs to be adjusted, but I don't know if what my car's doing is a symptom of that, or just the tranny in this year's car (4 spd auto).
At certain speeds, let's say 50 mph, I actually need to push the gas pedal down almost to the floor for my car to kick down a gear and accelerate. If I just push a bit, it lazily keeps going in the same gear. It's like my car thinks I I'm not trying to go faster unless it's at wide open throttle.
Anyone?

If it is a kickdown adjust, should I do it myself according to Chilton or check with a trans shop to be safe?

 

mine does that too.. all i do is manually shift it into second then back to drive when i'm done.

 

Dodge automatics are the problem. Only fix is a manual.

 

It's all electronically shifted. It goes off the signal that your TPS provides it. So if you feel like it's abnormal I would start there.

Mine doesn't go into a passing gear until I give it a healthy amount of throttle, or it detects a high load like a hill climb or something.

 

the kickdown isnt electronic when u push the gas pedal more the throttle cable pulls on the kickdown lever and downshifts( if im not mistaken idk im just a stoner that learns o**** from reverse engineering lol)

 

I had a feeling it was just a product of the ATX. That's why I asked you fine people. To be honest, I hate my tranny...the 3 spd ATX in my '00 was better, but this car had a lot less miles and the price was right.....FREE

 

I uh, downshift to the next lower gear, and uh accelerate.. I love me my manual.

 

If I need extra oomph and downshift from OD to 3rd, my car actually bogs down even more.

 

True that. I basically just mash the pedal like my car's been naughty and needs to learn it's place. For the most part, it works, but sometimes it drops too many gears and really roars for a second or two until it finds 3rd. They really should have put all the gears on the selector. Oh well. Live and not learn Dodge.

 

Yeah, that's why you gotta buy them cars with the slapsticks.