Hi and thank you for taking a look at this.

I don't know where to start diagnosing the cause of my hard/weird shifting.

In general the shifts are whip-lashing and up hills it doesn't want to downshift but when it does, the rpms are screaming for a few seconds before shifting up a gear which then seems too high of a gear to be in.

Other symptoms that may help:

I hardly have to move the accelerator to feel like I'm giving it plenty of gas.
The shift from 1 to 2 is usually harsh unless I'm giving it a lot of gas.
The shift from 2 to 3 happens sooner than it seems it should but is usually a smooth shift.
It has a tow package (could the tranny be 'set' to be pulling something heavy?)

Are there other symptoms I should look for?

From what I've read I could try a few things like , shift solenoids, band tightening, speed sensors, throttle position sensors, fluid and filter change, but I'd like to start with the cheapest most likely cause.

I have a 1994 B250 with the big 5.9 engine and 99K. It has a tow package. I've owned it for a year and it's always had this issue.

I'll take any direction you point me in or read any threads on this I couldn't find in my searches.

Thank you!

 

surely you have done the first thing... change out the tranny fluid and filter with ATF+4 and fill to correct level...

check the dipstick... is the fluid brown or clear dark reddish color? does it smell burnt?

brown or burnt fluid needs to be changed... at 99K miles a transmission flush at a trans shop may still be in order... usually over 100K these shops will NOT do one, so talk to a couple of shops before you decide to do a flush...

I had a '94 B250 with a 113K and the tranny went out BOOM one day, and a '01 with 145K and started slipping, replaced with Jasper rebuilt... I towed about 1500# boat all the time.

 

Thanks.
I have checked the fluid level and color. Both are perfect so I didn't think a flush and filter would help but maybe that's the first thing i should try.

 

Do you have any codes? Might want to check the tv cable adjustment.

This is for the rams but should work in vans also.
http://dodgeram.info/Engine-Gas/OBDI/pcm_fault_code.htm

 

with that many miles the color should not be perfect... did the previous owner change out fluid and NOT put in ATF+4?

commonon problem putting in regular trans fluid... have to use ATF+4

look up ATF+4 on this forum

 

This should help you troubleshoot some.

 

Thank you for the links, attachments and advice. I'm looking into it all. Just what I need and very helpful.

 

This is for the 46RE transmission and possibly might be different from whatever tranny you have but it can at least give you ideas of what you could check to get you started.

 

No codes found. The engine light only blinked 55 for no codes.

From the attachments above page 4 seems to be most similar to my issue.

"Shifts delayed or erratic. (Shifts also harsh at times)"

Possible causes:
1. Fluid level low/high
2. Fluid filter clogged
3. Throttle linkage maladjusted

Second Similar issue is "Upshift from 3-4 occurs immediately after 2-3 shift"
1. Overdrive solenoid wire connector or wiring shorted
2. TPS malfunction
3. PCM malfunction
4. Overdrive solenoid malfunction


I'm gonna take a guess that my next step should be to change the fluid and filter? How feasible is it to do this myself? I'd want to know it has been done correctly. I don't have much confidence in the local Jiffy Lube. I used to do my own oil, belt, water pump changes and keep an 36 year old motorcycle running so I have some tools and practice.

Or should my first step be to put in a new TPS?
Or adjust some throttle linkage?

 

Just to make sure when you checked the fluid level you:
1. have van on a flat surface
2. let the van warm up (5+mins)
2. put the van through all the gears and then back into neutral (emergency brake on just to keep it still)
4. then check tranny fluid level.

If you didn't do that I would go check it again. I would assume going through the gears wouldn't change much, but the manual does say to do that.

If it's not low OR overfilled then proceed to next step which would be the free stuff before spending any money.

Adjust the cables going to tranny. Attached picture should give you a general idea on how to adjust those. I would think it be the same pretty much on how to do it for all the vans.