2nd - 3rd shift only after high RPMs

[Aphix]

It holds in 2nd until I hit around 4,000 RPM's or let up off gas almost 100% to coax it into shifting. Just started doing this Saturday. Any ideas what it could be? Last summer I put the end clutch and shift kit in it and it has been working ok since.

 

[91TSIallday]

so whats the problem? is it grinding, not going into gear smooth?

 

[Bud92gsx]

Keep your foot on the gas untill it shifts at 5k 6k..Nothing wrong with that..

You have a 2g, so there is no power/economy switch..Correct?

 

[Aphix]

It ends up shifting, but when you want to drive the car in a normal fashion itholds itself in 2nd gear way to long and wont shift. Something changed dramatically in the past 2-3 days in its shifting from 2nd- 3rd. Cant even coax it by shifting the shifter to 2nd and then back to 3rd. It only will shift if you get the RPM's up and then let way of the gas pedal.

 

[Bud92gsx]

Have you checked the fluid level? It sounds awful strange to just start happaning in the last couple days...

 

[tenn-gsx]

Could be the tcu or maybe even a piece of crud blocking up the valve body.

 

[Aphix]

It has always been a little more laggy shifting from 2 to 3, but it just hit a wall this past couple of days. When it shifts it shifts hard too. And the transmission will shift at low rpms, but you cant being giving it any gas at all. It feels like it wants to shift, and then it finally overcomes something and shifts.

 

[Aphix]

Pulled the trans codes last night. Getting codes 53, 86, 21.

53=3rd Gear Incorrect Ratio
21= Open-Circuited Kickdown Servo
86= Incorrect gear ratio

Any ideas on anything i can check? Servo? I had a dsm shop replace the head, could something have happened that would cause this? Also, after the rebuild the transmission was ok for the first couple days, and then it began doing this very abruptly.

 

[Aphix]

Any ideas here? Still have the 2-3 shift flare? Could it be the shift soleniods maybe? Can the TCU screw up and delay shifts?

 

[blktalon3]

Wouldn't hurt to check the tps. I adjusted mine wrong once and my trans was doing the exact same thing yours is.

 

[rbwtrans]

The kick down servo is the large black plastic piece on the front of the transmission. Make sure that it is plugged in correctly. The tcu uses this to confirm that the band has released (or more accurately to say "to moniter the band position") It may be that the tcu doesn't try to apply 3rd because it's not seeing an applied or un-applied state from the servo switch. Also check your speed sensor connections. A good filter and fluid change never hurts either. These trannies like the good Valvoline (not synthetic). If all that fails then try the Trans-Labs shift kit from IPT. I've used this kit a lot and it fixes 90% of the problems that these things encounter.