1998 ford ranger with almost 230k. Vehicle is daily driven. I dont know if this is an issue or if its just the way its programmed. When the vehicle is warm and under light to medium throttle it shift from 1-2 around 2500-3k rpm but then stays in 2nd for no time before shifting into 3rd. When the vehicle is first started and its cold it shifts like you would expect with 1-2-3 being of equal time in each gear. The transmission shifts beautifully and i keep up on the filter and fluid changes with mercon v. The valve body gasket was also changed a few years ago as they have a tendency to blow out. Is the quick second gear a normal fuel efficiency programming in the ecm or may there be some issue?
Ford ranger transmission shifts too soon
- Thread starter joegreen
- Start date
Hi Joe.
This is my understanding of how trannies work from cold to hot based on engine & tranny temperature.
When the engine is cold, many trannies will shift, how we think of as normal. However, usually the tranny will not shift into overdrive gears for emission reasons until the tranny warms to a specified temperature. Some differently than others... IDK if I said that correctly.
Then when the engine is warm, the tranny will shift into all gears much faster for a fuel economy requirement. Getting into the highest gear as soon as possible. I've seen & felt differences in different vehicles and I could give examples:
My buddy in Florida had a '92 Chevy S10 with a 4.3L V6 & 4 speed overdrive automatic. When starting out, the tranny always shifted into 2nd gear almost right away while all other shift felt more normal. But I didn't drive the truck everyday so I can 't answer for all outside temps during the year and how the tranny shifted in every scenario.
My wife had an '01 Lexus RX300 AWD. This tranny WOULD NOT shift into overdrive in the winter time until the engine & tranny were to a specified temperature. Sometime never getting into overdrive for few miles...which caused me some concern I have to tell you. The rest of the drive would be normal.
This is my understanding of how trannies work from cold to hot based on engine & tranny temperature.
When the engine is cold, many trannies will shift, how we think of as normal. However, usually the tranny will not shift into overdrive gears for emission reasons until the tranny warms to a specified temperature. Some differently than others... IDK if I said that correctly.
Then when the engine is warm, the tranny will shift into all gears much faster for a fuel economy requirement. Getting into the highest gear as soon as possible. I've seen & felt differences in different vehicles and I could give examples:
My buddy in Florida had a '92 Chevy S10 with a 4.3L V6 & 4 speed overdrive automatic. When starting out, the tranny always shifted into 2nd gear almost right away while all other shift felt more normal. But I didn't drive the truck everyday so I can 't answer for all outside temps during the year and how the tranny shifted in every scenario.
My wife had an '01 Lexus RX300 AWD. This tranny WOULD NOT shift into overdrive in the winter time until the engine & tranny were to a specified temperature. Sometime never getting into overdrive for few miles...which caused me some concern I have to tell you. The rest of the drive would be normal.
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I think the biggest concern is the late 1-2 shift occuring at 2500-3k RPM's. They could be normal with hard accelleration but not normal driving. . Perhaps the shift solenoid to shift from first to second is not working as it should. Try running a computer scan to see if any codes are present.
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How long have you owned this Ranger?
How long has it exhibited this 'quick warm shift to 3rd'?
What is the general condition of this truck? (filthy MAF?, gunked / stuck PCV?,
Easy/cheap shot in the dark: A 10 oz. bottle of LubeGard red to the trans to see if it changes anything with its 'magic lube' properties.
How long has it exhibited this 'quick warm shift to 3rd'?
What is the general condition of this truck? (filthy MAF?, gunked / stuck PCV?,
Easy/cheap shot in the dark: A 10 oz. bottle of LubeGard red to the trans to see if it changes anything with its 'magic lube' properties.
If it shifts good when cold and the fluid is thick, but shifts bad when warm and the fluid is thin, the obvious cure is to keep the fluid thick. Either by keeping it cool by adding a cooler, or pouring in a thickener like Lucas.
If it's not a hard transmission issue, check TPS and ECT sensors, as both can affect shift timing and or feel
Plus fluid level, normal checks etc
Motorcraft parts only
Plus fluid level, normal checks etc
Motorcraft parts only
I had a 2000 es300 that wouldn’t shift into 4th until the engine warmed up. It definitely got to some high rpm when cold in 3rd.
I don’t think 2500-3000rpm is that high. When you give it gas it jumps right up to 2000 rpm then you only have 500-1000 rpm before it shifts. It has 4:10 gears
Owned it 25 years. It’s had this issue for years if i can recall. I was too young to drive when it was new and i didn’t daily drive it until recently. It has lubegard red in it already. The pcv was changed a few years ago and every time i have checked the maf in the past it’s always clean.
Based on everything else you said, it seems normal and operating fine, so yeah, odds are it's programmed that way (for fuel efficiency). Speaking of this, if you're ever near a new Corvette and the typical old man that wears white New Balance sneakers is driving (on Sunday), listen to it when it pulls away from a stop. It must have 15 gears or something as it shifts in 1-second intervals under light throttle.
My '08 G35 also shifts very quickly out of 2nd (or maybe it's 3rd) gear if I'm light on the go-pedal. I'm 100% certain it's for fuel economy.
Different transmission (A650E); upon cold start, the LS400 has a delayed 2-3 shift. Once the transmissions makes the 2-3 shift (after traveling ~0.2 miles), there's no delayed shift until it sits overnight again. This happens with every LS400. I think this occurs with the earlier A340 as well.
There's a fluid temperature sensor in the transmission. I've never had the need to see what the threshold reading of the sensor is that allows the shift.
someone on another forum suggested disconnecting the battery and leaving it off for a while. I did this on Friday. But it didn’t seem to make a difference and i had errands to run. When i did disconnect the battery i noticed a decent amount of acid had worked it’s way out of the Johnson controls style caps and was sitting on the top and side of the battery making its way down to the battery tray. After getting back from my errands i took the battery out and hosed it off and hosed off all in the battery tray and the positive and negative cables. It’s been 4 days and the transmission has been shifting flawlessly. Is this coincidence or do you think the battery acid or disconnecting the battery two times has something to do with it. Also it’s been colder out recently and maybe that also changed something?
