Now I'm just guessing but I believe HeyYou is saying the bracket for the sensor is different from the older/newer trans, and the the old sensor IN the new style bracket Isn't allowing it to seat all the way. Swap Brackets?
Ive never had to do this myself, so I could very well be wrong here. Im sure HeyYou will fill us both in before too long

 

There are folks around here that have done this, would be really nice if one of them came along and told us exactly what needed to happen......

 

Ok, I've got 3 tranny here, 2001, 1997,and the 1998 is in the truck now all 3 of the governor bodies that the solenoids go into look the same. The metal retaining bracket is different for the 2001, but that and the rest of the sensors and solenoids have been put in the 98 already. Im about to light a match .

 

You need sensors from an 01, and also the 01 retaining clip. Make sure the sensor/solenoid are fully seated. That *should* take care of it.

 

Im back again. Last night I tore into this thing again and found that I had plug in the governor pressure solenoid backwards, it was flipped around. So I swapped it back, put it all back together. Test drove it and still starts out in 3rd. My question is , could that being plugged in backwards ,of cause damage to something else?

 

Unlikely. It would just send interesting signals to the PCM...... Starting in third (second?) is a symptom of being in 'limp mode'. PCM doesn't like something there.....

 

Need to reset the PCM?

 

How is that done?

 

Just disconnect the battery for 10 minutes or so.

 

Ok im trying that now. I also tried disconnecting the 8 wire harness to the top of tranny and see if I could shift manually and it still feels like it's in a higher gear. And when I put it in drive it acts just like when the harness is plugged in, like im starting in 3rd gear. Im stumped.