Hey guys, when driving my truck on the highway ive noticed that it doesnt ever stay in 4th. it always just jumps to 5th when climbing. It a 2001 318 4wd automatic. Is there adjustment I can make?

 

There is no 5th gear. The automatics for the 318/360 were 4 speed.

I think what you are seeing is the torque converter locking and unlocking (or however you say that).

The torque converter thing and the shift into OD is controlled by the computer. Without a programmer, you can't really change it. You can change the 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd shifts by adjusting the cable on the passenger side of the throttle body, but not the OD.

 

Its going into lockup, thats normal.

 

Besides, when you are climbing as you say, it is kicking down, not going UP into another gear.

 

Are you lugging big tires on stock gearing?

A switch to 4.10 gears fixed that for me.

 

okay so its constantly unlocking and locking? is there anything I can do to save my torque converter? A programmer will make it stay in 3rd longer? How do u know if that cable needs to be adjusted or not?

 

the TV cable does not control TC lockup. Only shifts from 1-2 and 2-3. moving the cable very tiny amounts makes a big difference so be careful.

A tuner like SCT can adjust the TC lock up in fourth. I asked hemifever to set mine higher as I didn't like how early the OD kicked down and dropped the rpms to 1400 (had some pinging when driving up hill.) it now locks up at ~50 MPH and drops to 1600RPMs instead. I like it much better.

 

you can push the O/D off button when you go up a hill that will cause it if you want to keep it from constantly happening.

 

Define constantly.

 

I'm driving around 80km's and i let off the gas I can feel it unlock i think and then when i press the gas it will lock. Sound right? I like the sound of what the other guy said using the programmer to make his shift later.