AT Shift Points

sokabrok

sokabrok

Member
94' L300, AT. When shifting from 2nd to 3rd, and 3rd to 4th, she really wants to wind out the RPMs before upshifting. Sometimes close to 4,000 RPMs. However, if I let off the throttle ever so slightly where I think it should shift, she'll upshift and off we go. I've driven another L300 that did the same thing. Is this normal or is there an adjustment that can be made? It's actually pretty convenient to be able to get it to shift where I want but is that how it's intended to work? I'm 450km post D4BF swap and it didn't run before that so I have no point of reference. Thanks!
 
Might be your torque converter going out. My L300 had these symptoms, except it wouldn't want to upshift from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd. You had to wind it out to about 4,000 RPM before it would finally shift. Ended up getting the transmission rebuilt be a local transmission shop that did a phenomenal job.
 
Could be the step down/throttle cable adjustment. It will shift late if it thinks you're on the throttle hard.
 
If you loosen the cable a little bit that should reduce throttle pressure and delay shift. By a little bit I mean not more than two turns before testing.
 
I'll play with the adjustments. I don't want to delay the shift. It tends to shift too high as it is. I guess the answer to my question of "is this normal" is no, it's not normal.
 
Think how the adjustment works. With acceleration the tension on throttle cable increases. This delays the shift by increasing trans line pressure, the shift occurs later and firmer. Loosening tension results in an earlier and softer shift. On flat ground I can play with the shift using the accelerator pedal, easing the pedal results in an upshift. I was in the mountains with steep grades and felt the shifting was too late, rpm to high. I loosened the cable a little bit and was happier with the shift points.

Don't sweat what is normal as much as tailoring the vehicle to suit your driving style, after all it is your vehicle.
 
Yup, makes sense. It's actually nice to be able to get it to shirt where you want/need it too. Just want to be sure thing weren't way out of whack. Is the adjust made on the throttle cable for the trans cable with the orange boot next to the throttle cable?
 
sokabrok said:
Yup, makes sense. It's actually nice to be able to get it to shirt where you want/need it too. Just want to be sure thing weren't way out of whack. Is the adjust made on the throttle cable for the trans cable with the orange boot next to the throttle cable?
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All of this is covered in the workshop manual found here. I’d start with the baseline adjustments and go from there.
 
kbrown934 said:
Think how the adjustment works. With acceleration the tension on throttle cable increases. This delays the shift by increasing trans line pressure, the shift occurs later and firmer. Loosening tension results in an earlier and softer shift. On flat ground I can play with the shift using the accelerator pedal, easing the pedal results in an upshift. I was in the mountains with steep grades and felt the shifting was too late, rpm to high. I loosened the cable a little bit and was happier with the shift points.

Don't sweat what is normal as much as tailoring the vehicle to suit your driving style, after all it is your vehicle.
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Well it has a recommend setting because if it’s set to loose you will get low line pressure. If you set it so it is always shifts before the recommended rpm it can lead to premature transmission wear and early failure. I would not recommend setting it “suit your driving style” you really want to set it to factory settings unless you really know what you’re doing. Feel free to ask me how I know.
 
I am in no way an advocate for soft squishy shifts, nor do I believe in hi revs prior to shift points on level ground. I have a happy medium and carry the right wrench in case something changes.
 
kbrown934 said:
I am in no way an advocate for soft squishy shifts, nor do I believe in hi revs prior to shift points on level ground. I have a happy medium and carry the right wrench in case something changes.
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Just saying you should adjust be length in manual and not be feel.
 
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