auto vanagon stubborn on upshift

[Chris Country]

I recently purchased an '89 Carat to use as a daily driver. It has been great so far although this morning, it really revved high before shifting up in to the next gear. I almost got off the freeway when the RPM's in 2nd gear were way up to 3500 before kicking into 3rd. It used to shift up to the next gear way down in the 2000 range. Any insight as to what is happening? I've got a Bentley on the way to help. This is my first experience with autos. Have had 2 manual Westies so am learning the ins and outs. Also, sometimes after parking my rig, it settles in with a slight clunk after it is in park and off. This happens with or without the parking brake on. Hmm?

[mjamgb]

The settling with a slight clunk is a pawl catching in a slot in the tranny and the car moving until the wheels turn the drive-line enough to bear on it. Typical of all automatics when you put them in "P"
The other issue. Hmm. Seems like 2K is a bit low for up-shifting unless you got a diesel or you are lollygaggin' at the throttle. Sometimes the wife's Chebbie won't shift when I nail it 'til 5K or more (heh, heh, heh, don't tell er!).
I'd try having the tranny serviced first. Change fluid and filter and adust bands (or have it done if first time). If the fluid is pretty burnt then paying for a flush is worthwhile (smells burnt, pretty obvious).

If it still gives you trouble (or if the shop "finds" something) then you can start looking deeper.

And by all means, keep wondering and asking. It's possible someone here has had JUST that difficulty.

Mike!

[Chris Country]

Thanks a bunch. I can't believe the wealth of knowledge at this site!

[McHuntley]

My '86 auto does that when it is low on ATF. Right now I am checking it weekly until I can put the car in for a tranny service. 2+weeks more.
If your ATF is low, check for leaks, hopefully it is not migrating into the differential area.

Good Luck!
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Any opinions stated here are my own, otherwise someone else would have said them.

[weinerwagen]

Service the trannie with synthetic oils.....if it still acts up, sounds like internal failure. They do tend to get cranky when they are cold though
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Retired attorney--Tort King.

[Chris Country]

Will do on the synthetics. Any recommendations? I heard Amsoil is good. By the way, can anyone tell me what the ATF capacity is on the autos? I seem to be missing my owners manual and won't know until my Bentley manual arrives. Thanks a bunch!!

[mjamgb]

Just chiming in again to admit an embarassment and double "yup" the low fluid vote.

Seems I let the fluid get 3 qt low on the '97 Dodge Cummins. Um, "oops?"

Didn't kill the tranny (2 qt more than a standard unit) but it was shifting like S*#T especially when cold (fluid got a bit foamy too).

Why??? forgot to check the underside of the dipstick. Appears that some trannies "splash" the fluid around so the marked side got an unrealistic reading.

Now, I do this as a matter of routine on the engine dip-stick so why not the tranny

Sheepishly contributed,

Mike!

[watermech]

Sounds to me like it's the governor valve. If this cars has the three speed trans I have seen this before. Look at the differential part of the tranny where the axles come out. Near the top of that housing there is a stamped steel can held down by a wire. Under that can is the governor and if I remember right (it's been a while since I worked on an automatic!) the valve should just pull out and you can clean it with brake clean or solvent or whatever. Let us know if that helps

[danno]

was this issue ever resolved I am having the same problem.

Usually when I first go somewhere or when the van has been sitting for a while it will not up shift from 1st until like 4200rpm and not at all from 2nd to 3rd eventually it will up shift to third and after a while it will act like normal up shifting at a normal rpm so I thought the trans fluid would be low but it is high. We bought the van about 6 months ago it has been driving great up until about two weeks ago when this started happening. I checked the trans fluid just after we bought the van and it was high and I don't think the level has dropped, no drips when parked.
Maybe the dipstick is the wrong length and it does need fluid. I am going to try to change the fluid and filter this weekend and see what happens.

sometimes it just acts like normal.

Daniel
Comox BC
86 weekender Auto
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Dan
Comox BC
86 Wolfsburg Weekender
92 Golf 4dr
93 Beta Synt Trials Bike.