new guy with a problem
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 44
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new guy with a problem
I have searched all night for this and the only thing that seems close is a tps sensor but my 96 lt1 wont shift unless its high in the rev range and when it does shift it wants to keep shifting back down, if you try to cruise it will just down shift, I have never owned an automatic car before so im not really sure how to diagnose it. thanks for any help I can get
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: Broomfield Colorado
St. Jude Donor '15
T.V. cable
I have searched all night for this and the only thing that seems close is a tps sensor but my 96 lt1 wont shift unless its high in the rev range and when it does shift it wants to keep shifting back down, if you try to cruise it will just down shift, I have never owned an automatic car before so im not really sure how to diagnose it. thanks for any help I can get
cable was out of adjustment. Not saying that it is your problem, just a
maybe. Look up Throttle Cable or TV cable, here on the forum or google it. Good Luck and welcome to the fraternity. dd
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,020
Likes: 51
From: Connecticut
Read these two threads and let us know what you think.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...when-cold.html
http://www.truckforum.org/forums/che...60e-4l80e.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...when-cold.html
http://www.truckforum.org/forums/che...60e-4l80e.html
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: Houston TX
That could be any number of things. With Auto Trans cars fluid quality can make a big difference as can fluid level. Check your transmission fluid level, according to the directions in the owners manual. Check the color with a clean coffee filter, it should be red, not brown or black, and should not smell burned. Next for look any vacuum lines to the trans that may have broken or got disconnected. If that all looks OK you may want to replace the filter anyway for good measure. If none of this pan out then you need to start testing sensors. The high revs to shift can happen when fluid level is low, the trying to kick back is odd, not sure what to make of that.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2015
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Might be the cable because it drove home fine. Feels electrical. And I noticed doing the first overlook that the throttle end of the cable was mounted wrong and the plastic clip was chewed up so I put it as close to original as I could for the time, and doing the test to McDonald's is when it started. I work at advance as a side job so I'll get some parts too take home tonight just to make sure it isn't the tps
Pro
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 706
Likes: 47
From: Denver Colorado
TV Cable
If your cable is not in nearly perfect shape, it is a good thing to replace it now. The transmission line pressure is controlled by the Throttle Valve and a bad cable will not adjust properly. If that happens to you the transmission can fail due to low pressure and burned clutches. You can not see the cable over its full run so, if in doubt change it. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,654
Likes: 803
From: Saskatoon Sask.
If your cable is not in nearly perfect shape, it is a good thing to replace it now. The transmission line pressure is controlled by the Throttle Valve and a bad cable will not adjust properly. If that happens to you the transmission can fail due to low pressure and burned clutches. You can not see the cable over its full run so, if in doubt change it.
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It is a 4L60E, meaning total electronic control. The problem is sure to be internal to the trans. How many miles?
Pro
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 706
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From: Denver Colorado
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
the working bits of the trans seem good, it pulls fine, shifts fine, no hard, or soft engagement. the only problem is that its confused, possibly internal but almost definitely (at least from what im seeing) is that its electronic
Racer
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 429
Likes: 28
From: Brooklyn, MI
I had a simular problem on a 1996 I had. I bought the car from a dealer with a warranty and the transmission started acting like yours on the drive home from Vegas to Phoenix. As the car was under warranty and the transmission was just rebuilt I took it to a local trans shop they replaced some parts and it worked for about a day. Long story short took car back to Vegas to rebuilder they had for about a week and found a bad pin in the connector to the ECM it was repaired and there were no further problems. So do not just throw parts at the car take it to someone that does electrical work on these cars and have it checked out.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2015
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new guy with a problem (update)
I still know very little about autos, but I replaced the tps, it seems like it might have helped slightly, but the car still doesn't shift till high in the revs and still wants to downshift once it does get the next gear so its impossible to cruise. I was desperate so I looked at the fluid. with the car running it was at the right level. im honestly stumped on it
Racer
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 429
Likes: 28
From: Brooklyn, MI
I still know very little about autos, but I replaced the tps, it seems like it might have helped slightly, but the car still doesn't shift till high in the revs and still wants to downshift once it does get the next gear so its impossible to cruise. I was desperate so I looked at the fluid. with the car running it was at the right level. im honestly stumped on it
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 16,076
Likes: 816
From: Dallas Texas
2025 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
I went thru the same with my 93. Shop drove it today(sticking governor, cleaned it) and they said it shifts good. He told me he's gonna put more miles on it tomorrow. But I experienced the exact same, late shifting into 2nd gear. Only that gear. Does it happen in every gear for you?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,654
Likes: 803
From: Saskatoon Sask.
OP doesn't say that it is slipping, only hunting gears. More inclined to be a governor problem or possibly VSS. He needs to take it to someone who can diagnose with a scanner and stop throwing parts at it.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2015
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yes its not slipping, mechanically it feels fine. I had a theory that it was the computer, so I took it out and drove it. at 50ish percent throttle it never shifts above 3500 to 4k rpm. at 100 percent it shifts at redline. every time I test from a stop it performs like it should at the level of throttle I give it, EXCEPT low throttle. it seems to be localized to low throttle but is also very predictable. from that I can say almost positively that its an electronic problem