Does anyone know Hydrashocker's test of pulling the 8 pin connector I've seen him say to test if it is an electronic or mechanical problem?

"There is a way to see if your issue is electrical or mechanical on your transmission 42-44RE. Testing instructions for 42RE, 44RE, 46RE, 47RE.

By doing this you will not have an automatic transmission, you will have to shift it completely manual and you will have no Overdrive!

Get under truck on the drivers side and unplug the 8 pin harness from the transmission near the linkage input into the trans, (this is the main plug to the transmission). Start your truck and back out or what not. Now drop the gear shift selector without stopping all the way down from reverse (or Park) to 1st and hit the gas. You should be going now running in first gear. Now shift with the selector to 2nd gear, then into Drive. If everything shifts fine then your issue is electronic, if it shifts the same then it is mechanical.

If the problem is electric:
1. Replace the Output Transmission Speed Sensor.
2. Check the 8 pin harness you disconnected for corrosion.
3. Replace the 3-4 shift solenoid."

I am wondering if anyone knows if pulling the trans control relay in the junction block would accomplish the same thing.

I've also read on here that if the problem is electrical that the relay can be jumped to bypass it as a semi permanent fix until it can be fixed.

Really hope someone is on since I kinda need an answer now.

 

No, pulling the relay won't cut it. You have to disconnect it at the trans. That disables ALL the electronics in the trans.

 

Damn. I was afraid of that. What about the jumping of it I saw if it does turn out to be electrical?

 

That can work, it really depends.

 

You aren't getting a code for the trans control relay, so, as far as the pcm is concerned, it's working properly. If it wasn't, it would whine about it.

 

Ok. Now I'm wondering if maybe it is electrical. I did his test and it went into first and I was able to shift through second and third but when I stopped and tried to shift down again it wouldn't go back into 1st. So I tried to Put it back through park and reverse and it went into first again. I figured it might be mechanical. So I parked it and went under and put the 8pin back on. Took a shower and got ready to take it in limp mode to get groceries since I was out of food. Got in and lo and behold it seemed to be working normally. Even the OD. Well at least for about the 4 miles to the first store because when I left it and started for the second store it was acting up again. Went into the second store came out and it's working right again. And stayed working through the next three stores all the way home. I was at the second store an hour or two, third one about a half hour and the fourth and fifth about 15-20 minutes a piece with a total mileage from the second to home roughly about another 10-15 miles.
Anyone else think it might possibly be electrical?

 

Highly likely. Replace at least the governor pressure sensor, and the governor pressure solenoid. You can get the pair of 'em in a kit from a host of sellers on EBay. You are looking for the borg warner heavy duty solenoid set for your trans. The year they are designed for is critical. Get the wrong ones, and you will have issues convince the trans to do anything at all..... So, be careful what you buy. Only buy from a seller with a good rating as well.

You will also need a fluid and filter kit, and six to eight quarts of ATF +4. Doing a band adjustment while you are in there would be a very good idea as well. Are you going to do the work yourself? Or have a shop do it for you??

 

No money actually. Gonna have to drive it as gentle as is for the time being. Also won't be able to afford to have someone else do it so I'll have to find a way to do it myself when I can afford it. Really wish it was something like that relay I could jump to make sure it stays working until then but from what you guys say that's probably not it.

 

It honestly isn't a hard job. I can make a video for you if you wish because here at the end of the month I'm changing my fluid and filter

 

That would be much appreciated. I'm sure I would've figured it out since I've built numerous motors and replaced transmissions among droves of other repairs over my life but a specific video would definitely make it even simpler when I get the money and also help identify what tools I'll need to get if I don't have all the right ones. Still recovering from losing everything I owned for the fourth time in life.