VDOG

Ok I was on my way to work on the freeway rolling along in Overdrive as usual, when the trans shifted gears and dropped into a lower gear by itself.
Seems like it went from Drive to 1st, I started to push buttons.
Pushed the Overdrive button off and on, move the shift lever from drive to 1st
if finally went to normal on its own. Then about a minute later it did the same thing, and then stopped on its own. I was driving between 75 and 80mph. Is this a transmission problem or a computer problem? One more thing, I notice when the car is cold, it runs like overdrive is off untill my water temp goes to warm, then it drops into overdrive.

Mr. Blue Sky

iTrader: (1)

It is normal for these transmissions (auto) to shift to a lower gear when your car goes below a certain heat level. It does this to reach the optimal operating temp of the car. When it is cold, it will also not shift into the last gear many times. This used to happen to me when I didn't have a thermostat in my car, when I was going higher speeds on cold nights. If it doesn't do it all of the time, then I think it is just a normal occurrence now that it is getting colder.

VDOG

Ok im with you, but what im talking about is slam on the brakes type of down shift. If I had a stick it would be like going from 5th to 1st. The car raised up in the back and it slowed down. Engine reved up high like I was in a lower gear. Now what do you think?

Mr. Blue Sky

iTrader: (1)

now that is a toughy, gonna think about it and edit my post later if I find an answer

VGsidestepper

going from 5th to 1st would most likely blow you're engine..

Kman87

mine does this all the time...

in the summer when i have been driving for about 20-30 mins the transmission gets hot and wont stay in OD it drops back into 4th and stays there. There are two actuators one that engages OD and one that disengages OD. I think the actuator that engages is failing after it gets too hot next spring i might replace it. but i havent worried about it because i only drive my car in the winter and on brief trips during the summer

VDOG

I agree, thats how bad it was. The car had slowed down so much I was trying to change lanes to get off the freeway. It did not drop into a lower gear to pick up speed, it dropped and slowed down.