Hi everyone, my 1995 Ram 1500 2WD has developed this shifting issue. When starting out from full stop, it will go from 0 to about 50mph in 2nd, and then it quickly shifts to 3rd and 4th.

The shifting itself is very smooth, but it just happens way too late, the RPMs are in the 3000-3500 range by the time it decides to shift.

If I lay off the gas it may sometimes help it shift sooner, so it's "almost" driveable, but definitely not right.

I did a little searching and here is what I came up with

- Throttle valve cable needs adjusted
- Output speed sensor (where is it?)
- Governor pressure sensor/solenoid

I was going to start on this list, in this order... anything else I need to check?

 

TV cable is a good possibility.

You don't have a governor pressure sensor or solenoid on yours. Those came about for the 96 model year.

Your trans is purely hydraulically controlled for 1st thru 3rd. 4th, and TCC are electronically controlled.

If the TV cable doesn't solve it, I would drop the pan, and change the fluid and filter.

Checking fluid level first wouldn't hurt either. (be sure to check level in neutral, park won't give an accurate reading.)

 

I also just remembered this: last summer, the truck wouldn't shift into overdrive. 1-2-3 was good, just no OD.

I took out a sensor on the side of the tranny, tapped it against the transmission, cleaned the contacts, put back in, the problem went away for a while....

Is that the speed sensor?

Good to know that I don't have that governor solenoid; that looked like a big job to replace...

 

Good possibility there.

 

Any codes?

I had a similar issue a few months back. I did not have a CEL, but I had a stored transmission temp code.

Drop the pan, change the fluid, filter and gasket, let it drip overnight for maximum effect.

Measure what comes out, cause that's the amount that's gotta go back in, Use ATF +4 only

If you have not done regular tranny flushes, do NOT flush it. you'll do more harm than good.

if this doesn't fix it, rebuild time im afraid

 

Replaced the throttle lever return spring (located ON THE TRANSMISSION). The spring was weak and damaged. The problem went away. Details (for the benefit of the search) here:

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...-spring-2.html