Hello, I have a 1998 TJ wrangler that’s having a bit of an issue. When driving down the road any slight bumps or just driving in general it goes into 1-3 fine but the second it gets to overdrive it starts hard shifting back in forth in between 3rd and overdrive but then some days it’s fine. I have taken it to a trans shop and had it rebuilt and know I’m still have this problem. It also likes to high idle sometimes as well. It’s lifted and is on 33x12.5 but everything else is stock
98 TJ third gear and overdrive shifting problem
- Thread starter DaganS
- Start date
I also cruise it around 2000-2200 rpm’s and it jumps up to 2500-2900 and it’s just back and forth it feels like it’s having trouble shifting into overdrive I’m not sure
I would look at the brake switch, while you are driving at a steady speed in overdrive. Just barely push the brake pedal 1/8” or so see if the converter unlocks. You can also move it side to side with your foot to see if it does it. The brake switch may be sensitive.
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Assuming it is the stock 32RH automatic transmission, it is only a 3-speed transmission and there is no overdrive.
I think the op is referring to the converter locking and unlocking.
I missed that he's in a 98. I was actually going to reply earlier that I suspected it was the TCC lockup, but he said overdrive so I backed off.
Some video of it doing it would be helpful.
Alrighty I’ll check, it feels like it’s shifting underneath me but as I’m driving the rpm’s are randomly jumping around as well so I wasn’t sure if it’s not going in gear or what
What you're feeling, once you have reached cruising speed, is the torque converter locking up which drops the engine rpms by 100-150 or so. Locking the torque converter, which is automatically done by the PCM once a reasonable cruising speed is reached, stops the normal slippage inside a torque converter which helps to improve mpg and to help the transmission run a bit cooler. It is not a 4th gear, your transmission has just 3 speeds.
So it only actually has a 3 speed but I thought it had over drive but did some research and what I’m feeling that I think is overdrive is the torque convertor locking up. It feels like it’s shifting but it’s not and the rpm’s are bouncing all over the place then they’ll stop and the next day it’ll be fine
So it only actually has a 3 speed but I thought it had over drive but did some research and what I’m feeling that I think is overdrive is the torque convertor locking up. It feels like it’s shifting but it’s not and the rpm’s are bouncing all over the place then they’ll stop and the next day it’ll be fine
So it only actually has a 3 speed but I thought it had over drive but did some research and what I’m feeling that I think is overdrive is the torque convertor locking up. It feels like it’s shifting but it’s not and the rpm’s are bouncing all over the place then they’ll stop and the next day it’ll be fine
So it only actually has a 3 speed but I thought it had over drive but did some research and what I’m feeling that I think is overdrive is the torque convertor locking up. It feels like it’s shifting but it’s not and the rpm’s are bouncing all over the place then they’ll stop and the next day it’ll be fine
It feels harsh when the rpm’s are bouncing around it feels like it’s actually up shifting and downshifting as the rpm’s bounce around. It’s a brand new rebuilt transmission but I’m going to take it back
So is the torque converter bad or is the pcm bad causing it to unlock and lock, because it happens some days or it’ll happen later in the day after being drove the whole day
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads...-transmission-shifting-into-third-gear.22617/
Same issue ?? Jerry ?
Same issue ?? Jerry ?
That's a good find. It's possible that the TV cable plus OP's favorite throttle position is such that it wants to downshift & then upshift. The amount of RPM change he mentioned in the 2nd post is more consistent with 2nd to 3rd than with the TC lockup.
As a test, disconnect the end of the TV cable from the throttle lever on the intake. Drive it normally. It won't shift how you're used to, but it may hold 3rd gear better. Do that test & report back.
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