[Boostjunky]

Ok, Here's the deal. I have an ATS stage 4 transmission package in my truck. It's worked flawlessly for about 5,000 miles, when all of the sudden, it refuses to shift out of first gear until 3000 rpm, regardless of throttle position.

Things I've noticed:

1) The problem is intermittent, and fairly inconsistent. However, I've noticed a moderate load in Reverse gear will generally cause it to exhibit the problem. The problem will disappear after the truck sits for a few hours to cool down.

2) When it is having this problem, it shifts very hard in all gears.

3) I had a DRBIII hooked up to it, and the governor pressure checked out fine, as well as all the solonoids. Computer was commanding a shift from 1st to 2nd, but it wouldn't shift till 3k rpm. 2nd gear has a delayed shift pattern, also, but not as bad as 1st.

When checking Reverse, however, the DRBIII showed it to be asking for 20 psi in the governor, but the actual was at 0. The tech was unsure if this was normal or not.

4) When decelerating, the trans downshifts to 1st gear at 35 mph, just as if I'd thrown the shift lever to 1st.

5) Edge module makes no difference, settings 0 - 6 all yield the same results.

6) Co-Pilot makes no difference. Behavior is the same with the Co-Pilot on or off.

I'm not a transmission specialist by any stretch of imagination, so I'm hoping some of the gurus on this board might have some insight!

ATS has been notified of the problem, and the findings with the DRBIII. They are attempting to simulate the problem in house so they can diagnose it.

Thanks, and I'll update if I ever get this figured out!

 

[BBRam]

I see you have the co-pilot as well. Have you ran it with and without the co-pilot? Is that an option? Just a thought.



Dodge | Commins | Forum

 

[Boostjunky]

I see you have the co-pilot as well. Have you ran it with and without the co-pilot? Is that an option? Just a thought.

Should have put that in the first post. I have ran it with and without, and there it makes no difference at all.

Edited first post with more info.

 

[skidooman]

Could it be the speed sensor? I know my buddy ripped the speed sensor out of the tranny on his chevy gasser, and it was doing the same thing. I guess if its showing mph that wouldnt be it. Worth a check though, might be a bad connection. Be nice if it was something simple. good luck

 

[Boostjunky]

All speed inputs and outputs checked out on the DRBIII.

 

[awenthol]

Maybe just a bad VB?? What has ATS said??

 

[Boostjunky]

Maybe just a bad VB?? What has ATS said??

I'm betting that the problem lies within the valve body, also!

ATS hasn't said anything besides they are attempting to duplicate the problem in-house so they can better diagnose the problem. They want me to call back within the next 2 days.

 

[Boostjunky]

Update: I spoke with ATS today and they are going to see if a new valve body will fix the issue. The only other thing they mentioned as a possibility is the reverse sprag.

I can't imagine that would affect 1st gear so heavily, but we'll see what happens with the valve body. I have high hopes that the valve body is the answer.

Only thing that sucks is that the labor for a valvebody install is going to be $370+!

I'll update as soon as I get this taken care of!

 

[Rob0183]

I hate to say it but I'm happy to hear it, I just chose a banks torque converter over ATS and I'm happy with the results. The dude at ATS in Bellflower trans. just sounded like he wanted to sell me a bunch of parts. I hope you get it figured out with your truck.

 

[Boostjunky]

I hate to say it but I'm happy to hear it, I just chose a banks torque converter over ATS and I'm happy with the results. The dude at ATS in Bellflower trans. just sounded like he wanted to sell me a bunch of parts. I hope you get it figured out with your truck.

So you're happy to hear that someone is having problems with their transmission? That's a little messed up...I mean, I can see feeling more comfortable about making your purchase through Banks, rather than ATS. But to say you're happy to hear it is kind of asinine.

In any event, if it makes any difference, I went with ATS because I was able to get a pretty good deal on it.

But I guess I'm glad you feel happy about your purchase in light of my misfortune.

 

[DBLR]

Why do you have to pay for the VB install while trying to fix the transmission problem? I would of thought there warranty would cover the cost being it only has 5K on it or am I missing something?

 

[DIESELMAN3500]

hey boost junky, i have a full billet buitl stg 4 or 5 but arent u thrilled with ATS customer service, :w: i hope your encunterment is a lot better than mine. my truck has always kinda stacked shift and my valve body is still messed up, and they are still clueless and want me to remove trans and send it back to them costing me 800 dollars shipping, which im not fond of. ATS has some of the beefiest parts ive seen but its their service that gets me.
when you installed the co pilot did you tske it apart and move the DIP switches on or off according to your setup?
and when you by-pass the co-pilot did you short out the blue and yellow i think?

 

[Boostjunky]

hey boost junky, i have a full billet buitl stg 4 or 5 but arent u thrilled with ATS customer service, :w: i hope your encunterment is a lot better than mine. my truck has always kinda stacked shift and my valve body is still messed up, and they are still clueless and want me to remove trans and send it back to them costing me 800 dollars shipping, which im not fond of. ATS has some of the beefiest parts ive seen but its their service that gets me.
when you installed the co pilot did you tske it apart and move the DIP switches on or off according to your setup?
and when you by-pass the co-pilot did you short out the blue and yellow i think?

I never took the co-pilot apart to check the dip switches. I'm assuming that the shop that installed the trans and co-pilot checked all that when they installed it. However, I have been meaning to check that out for myself.

As for bypassing the co-pilot to verify it isn't the problem, I haven't actually manually bypassed it. It should automatically bypass once shut off. I know there is always the possibility of that not happening, but the problems I'm experiencing are not consistent with torque converter lock-up.

Rather, the problem of the trans not up-shifting from 1st to 2nd until redline (3000 rpm), is 100% consistent with trans temperature, and using reverse gear. The trans shifts absolutely normal from a cold start. It's not until after warming the transmission up to normal operating temperature, then using reverse gear that I begin to experience problems. After meeting those 2 criteria, it exhibits delayed shifting in 1st gear, and harsh downshifting upon deceleration.

It's my understanding (by the little research I've done in the past few days) that when Reverse is engaged, the line pressures in the transmission increase by about 55% over forward gear pressures, so I'm almost wondering if there is something about the pressure from using reverse that is causing leakage within the valve body that is pressurizing the low (1st gear) valve beyond what it is supposed to withstand, and causing it to stick until the trans has time to cool down (metal parts changing size and binding due to heat expansion + high line pressures, and then cooling down and freeing up the sticking valve).

This is, of course, purely speculation. And as previously stated, I'm no automatic transmission expert by any stretch of imagination. Just trying to throw something out there.

 

[torquey]

Hey boost junkie pm me with who you are talking to at ats....I can probably help you out .

 

[06ramcummins]

Update: I spoke with ATS today and they are going to see if a new valve body will fix the issue. The only other thing they mentioned as a possibility is the reverse sprag.

I can't imagine that would affect 1st gear so heavily, but we'll see what happens with the valve body. I have high hopes that the valve body is the answer.

Only thing that sucks is that the labor for a valvebody install is going to be $370+!

I'll update as soon as I get this taken care of!

WARRANTY!!!! dont let them push you around. I had them warranty every single thing and not one time did i pay for anything. Shipping, parts, labor, nothing.

 

[Cummins 67]

First and reverse have alot in comman with auto trans, usally you will loose rev first and third at the same time leaving second and fourth ok.

 

[Boostjunky]

First and reverse have alot in comman with auto trans, usally you will loose rev first and third at the same time leaving second and fourth ok.

So, could I possibly be on the right track with the theory of possible internal valve body leakage, and possible binding of the low(1st gear) valve?

I really need to learn more about valve bodies, and how they function...:kick:

 

[Rob0183]

Isn't the warranty the main reason to go to ATS? 3 years unlimited warranty right?

 

[Boostjunky]

Update: Received the valvebody today. Pretty punctual with shipping! That's always a plus.

I have to work graveyards this week, but I'm planning on doing the swap tomorrow morning if the temperature outside isn't too cold.

It has come just in the nick of time, as the trans seems to be worsening, and it's beginning to act up w/out provoking it with Reverse. It now seems to be solely temperature related.

 

[justadonor]

your taking it to a shop to have the VB replaced?