1st to 2nd gear shifting high
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 19
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From: Muncie ,Indiana
I've been doin' good. 
I am hoping it is just a sticky linkage, or cable..... TV cable really isn't all that bad. When you step on the throttle, the cable pulls a lever down on the trans. If it sticks, the trans thinks you are stepping on the gas harder than you really are, and raises shift points. Of course, you should also get a firmer shift if that's the case..... Check it, see what ya think. If it's ok, probably time to drop the pan, and have a look, see if anything obvious presents itself.
I am hoping it is just a sticky linkage, or cable..... TV cable really isn't all that bad. When you step on the throttle, the cable pulls a lever down on the trans. If it sticks, the trans thinks you are stepping on the gas harder than you really are, and raises shift points. Of course, you should also get a firmer shift if that's the case..... Check it, see what ya think. If it's ok, probably time to drop the pan, and have a look, see if anything obvious presents itself.
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 87,467
Likes: 4,220
From: Clayton MI
Hello HeyYou been awhile sense I have texted, What stopped me is what you said about it sticking. My rpm is not letting it shift until 3 on 1st and 2nd , but then it goes through 3rd and OD Fast what I mean is when I get it through first and second its kind of feels like 3rd and OD are to close like milliseconds. which seems good to me all I have is peddle. Sorry for ramble? I'm checking the links @ the Trans, If Thats not it can you send me a link on the band adjustments hoping I don't have to go that fear. Thanks for your time.
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 11
Likes: 2
Good Morning!
1998 Dodge Ram 1500 5.2L 2WD Automatic - 226K original miles on Transmission
Been a moment since I have posted, which is probably a good thing. Since my last thread my truck has been running perfectly. I have had almost no issues with it. Long story short, make sure the dealership really gives you a Mopar sensor.
Just ran into an issue that started Sunday. Truck started up and was idling rough - No stalling but RPM would sit around 1K and go up to about 1.2 and fluctuate. I let it sit and it didn't seem to want to calm down so I took it for a quick drive and noticed immediately that I could not shift into 2nd gear until the RPM's were at 3K. The truck sounded like it was struggling around 2.5 (as if it was saying please shift dammit) but the truck normally shifts around the 2K mark into second. Monday I drove it some more and the same thing, every time the drive shifts from 1st to 2nd the RPM's need to be very high and occasionally from 2nd to 3rd the RPM's will reach well over 3K.
Whats strange is that when it does shift its not a hard shift and does not jolt into the gear. Its smooth. I checked the transmission fluid which was a little low and I topped it off. No codes are being thrown. I went ahead and replaced the battery and the terminals and checked all my grounds. I serviced the transmission fluid about 7K ago by dropping the pan and replacing the filter. Standard material around the magnet no chunks and no metal shavings. Fluid looked good. I did not replace any sensors.I took my throttle body off and cleaned all of the sensors and the leafs.
While I was doing some research on the issue I found a thread HeyYou suggested unplugging the 8-pin transmission shift connector on the driver side and take it for a ride. So I unplugged it and started in first gear. On a straight road I got her up to about 2.2K RPM in 1st gear, moved to 2nd gear and nothing seemed to happen, the RPM's continued to go up until about 3K as if it never shifted, so I went into D (I think thats 3rd gear) and the RPM's did go down like the truck shifted and I had power to keep driving. I did not feel a shift into 3rd. So I started to slow down and went into 2nd, nothing noticeable no RPM change and finally back into first. So I plugged the connector back in, let the truck cool and drove it again and I counted the gears. I count all 4 gears when the shift sensor is plugged in, unless its skipping 2nd gear and going into 3rd gear somehow. I just wanted to get some opinions on what is going on before I start throwing money at parts.
Here is a small video of 1st gear to 2nd gear which also includes the 2nd to 3rd gear high RPM shift (does not happen all the time) mind the note my girlfriend left me...
https://youtu.be/iDCzWfDJk6s
1998 Dodge Ram 1500 5.2L 2WD Automatic - 226K original miles on Transmission
Been a moment since I have posted, which is probably a good thing. Since my last thread my truck has been running perfectly. I have had almost no issues with it. Long story short, make sure the dealership really gives you a Mopar sensor.
Just ran into an issue that started Sunday. Truck started up and was idling rough - No stalling but RPM would sit around 1K and go up to about 1.2 and fluctuate. I let it sit and it didn't seem to want to calm down so I took it for a quick drive and noticed immediately that I could not shift into 2nd gear until the RPM's were at 3K. The truck sounded like it was struggling around 2.5 (as if it was saying please shift dammit) but the truck normally shifts around the 2K mark into second. Monday I drove it some more and the same thing, every time the drive shifts from 1st to 2nd the RPM's need to be very high and occasionally from 2nd to 3rd the RPM's will reach well over 3K.
Whats strange is that when it does shift its not a hard shift and does not jolt into the gear. Its smooth. I checked the transmission fluid which was a little low and I topped it off. No codes are being thrown. I went ahead and replaced the battery and the terminals and checked all my grounds. I serviced the transmission fluid about 7K ago by dropping the pan and replacing the filter. Standard material around the magnet no chunks and no metal shavings. Fluid looked good. I did not replace any sensors.I took my throttle body off and cleaned all of the sensors and the leafs.
While I was doing some research on the issue I found a thread HeyYou suggested unplugging the 8-pin transmission shift connector on the driver side and take it for a ride. So I unplugged it and started in first gear. On a straight road I got her up to about 2.2K RPM in 1st gear, moved to 2nd gear and nothing seemed to happen, the RPM's continued to go up until about 3K as if it never shifted, so I went into D (I think thats 3rd gear) and the RPM's did go down like the truck shifted and I had power to keep driving. I did not feel a shift into 3rd. So I started to slow down and went into 2nd, nothing noticeable no RPM change and finally back into first. So I plugged the connector back in, let the truck cool and drove it again and I counted the gears. I count all 4 gears when the shift sensor is plugged in, unless its skipping 2nd gear and going into 3rd gear somehow. I just wanted to get some opinions on what is going on before I start throwing money at parts.
Here is a small video of 1st gear to 2nd gear which also includes the 2nd to 3rd gear high RPM shift (does not happen all the time) mind the note my girlfriend left me...
https://youtu.be/iDCzWfDJk6s
Hoping for a response!
Thanks!
JD
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 87,467
Likes: 4,220
From: Clayton MI
Hey man, IDK if you will respond or not since this is an older thread but I have a 1998 dodge 1500 and I am having the same issue with the transmission not shifting until 3k rpms. Ive been looking into getting a governer pressure solenoid but I just dont wanna dump money ***** nilly and not fix the issue.
Hoping for a response!
Thanks!
JD
Hoping for a response!
Thanks!
JD
But, check the TV cable first, make sure it is adjusted properly, and not binding. If that's ok, the governor pressure sensor/solenoid are next on the list.
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 11
Likes: 2
Ok! Thank you for the response. Also when it does go into second sometimes it kicks it into neutral, could that also possibly narrow it down to the governor pressure solenoid and sensor?
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 87,467
Likes: 4,220
From: Clayton MI
When mine were bad, I would get delayed shifts, and it would drop into neutral at stops, and then POUND into gear when I stepped on the gas..... That sucked. 
I got the borg warner heavy duty solenoid and sensor set, and they work perfectly.
I got the borg warner heavy duty solenoid and sensor set, and they work perfectly.
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 11
Likes: 2
Thank you! Definitely going to look into it! Ill update when done!
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 11
Likes: 2
Hey man, I got the governer solenoid replaced and it was doing good, my girlfriend went to take it to work today and on the way home it made a strange sound and now the transmission wont shift into park. I checked the fluid and it doesnt look burnt, I tried shifting it into park at the transmission and it wont go into park. Would a band adjustment fix this or do you think its something else?
Grand Champion
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 7,435
Likes: 578
I tried shifting it into park at the transmission and it wont go into park.