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Transmission not shifting properly

Tiny
NJCOWGIRL
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 DODGE DAKOTA
  • 3.9L
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 134,000 MILES
Check engine light was on, got code for bad PCM and Governor Pressure Solenoid. Truck was not shifting properly. RPM's revving to red zone from first to second gear. Originally only happened occasionally then got so bad could not drive the truck. Got new PCM for my specific vehicle (Calif Emissions and programmed to VIN) and also replaced TPS. Truck ran like a dream for three weeks, No check engine light, shifted beautifully. Drove over five hundred miles in three week period. Now check engine light recently came back on for o2 sensor only, but now starting to have the same revving issues again. Not constantly and truck will go into gear when I let the RPM's go down. No code for governor this time though. Hot or cold does not matter also has began bucking just a little. Maybe TPS went bad or I got a faulty part? Truck shifts normally all other times.
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Tuesday, October 9th, 2018 AT 9:29 AM

11 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,363 POSTS
Hello,

They had problems with the Governor Pressure Solenoid in these cars even though you do not have a codes for it this is where I would start. Here are diagrams and a guide to help you do the job:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-service-an-automatic-transmission

You must pull the pan to change it.

Check out the diagrams (below). Please let us know what happens.

Cheers, Ken
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Thursday, October 11th, 2018 AT 2:08 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,573 POSTS
When this started did you have the fluid and filter changed in the transmission to check if there was a lot of wear material in the pan? It sounds a lot like a slipping transmission. I would probably start by disconnecting the battery and letting it set for about five minutes. Reconnect and see if the issue is still there. The disconnect will erase the learned information the PCM has learned as you drive. If the problem goes away for a while after the reset it is most likely wear inside the transmission. When first powered up the PCM will use default settings to control the transmission and engine. As it learns it will adjust various items to match your vehicle use and to keep the emissions items happy. One of those is the transmission shifting patterns.
Bucking could also be from internal transmission issues if it is only occurring in gear.
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Thursday, October 11th, 2018 AT 2:12 PM
Tiny
NJCOWGIRL
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Hi, sorry it took me a few days to respond back, I had the flu. Anyway I was figuring it was the governor. I have not changed out the transmission filter yet but that will be done when I change the governor and I am also going to change the transmission speed sensor. I have a scanner and I did erase the codes so C/E light is not on right now. Has been off for the last hundred miles or so. Funny thing is I have not had any issues for at least the past week, been running great. I did notice though that my gear shifter is sort of loose. What I mean is I have to be sure it is actually in drive. The other day it was showing in neutral but was still driving so I may have a shifter issue as well. I am going to drop the pan in the next week or so and change everything and fill up with ATF4. I will keep you posted. Thank you again for the advice.
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Monday, October 15th, 2018 AT 5:29 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,363 POSTS
Glad you are feeling better, please let us know what happens.
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Monday, October 15th, 2018 AT 11:13 AM
Tiny
CHARLES TUCKER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1999 DODGE DAKOTA
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 137,000 MILES
When I start up truck in the am and the temp is below 40 degress and start to drivwe the transmision will not shift from secound to thrid untill it warms up
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Friday, December 18th, 2020 AT 10:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ROB2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 258 POSTS
How is the fluid level?, And is the vehicle equipped with a transmission cooler?
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Friday, December 18th, 2020 AT 10:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DSTAFF90
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Have a '98 dakota, problem was seals in tranny bi-passing in cold weather, ok when warmed-up. Needed tranny rebuilt. Try Lucas tran. Additive, will work for quite a while before problem returns.
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Friday, December 18th, 2020 AT 10:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
J GOODYEAR
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1999 DODGE DAKOTA
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 198,000 MILES
Dodge pu 1999 dakota. In warm weather, doing constant speed, if I let up on the accelerator the least little bit, it down shfts to 3rd gear. Sometimes I can floor it and it will shift back to od. After a couple times this little trick doesn't work. I appreciate any and all suggestions. Thank you, Jim Goodyear
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Friday, December 18th, 2020 AT 10:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,916 POSTS
If you have a scanner that displays live data, watch the reading from the throttle position sensor to see if it suddenly bounces up to 4.5 - 5.0 volts when it downshifts.
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Friday, December 18th, 2020 AT 10:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JIM R59
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1999 DODGE DAKOTA
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 123,000 MILES
The trans didn`t downshift when I slowed to turn a corner
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Friday, December 18th, 2020 AT 10:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CH112063
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,320 POSTS
You must have noticed something unusual in the truck because you never noticed anything wrong before. Upshifts as well as downshifts have to do with the opening of the throttle (throttle pressure cable), the speed at which the outputshaft is turning (governor pressure), and the valves located in the valve body. Only the cable is adjustable.
If it only occured once. Leave it. If you were in overdrive and it didn't downshift then it could be electrical and probably stored a code in the PCM. I hope that helps you in deciding how to determine what action you should or should not take. Joe
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Friday, December 18th, 2020 AT 10:34 AM (Merged)

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