Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Auto transmission wouldn't downshift when pulling a steep hill is this normal

[jebia]

Are there certain conditions (load, steep, rpm), when the transmission will refuse to step down (gas pedal pressed all the way to the floor)? Is this normal.



Drove from Albuquerque to Phoenix and back on Saturday, went thru Payson Arizona (5000 ft). During one of the climbs up the many steep grades, I stepped on the gas (was locked up in Overdrive), thinking the transmission would step down. It didn't want to. I was going about 70 mph (boost was about 22 psi).



Most of the time (on other grades) the transmission wold step down and I would see the boost climb to near 30 psi and I would continue to accelerate from 70 to 80 mph.



Also a couple of times when the transmission did shift down when on a steep grade, I found that my rubber tube from the intake manifold tapped port, to my Westach boost gage would pop off (would pop off on the back of my gauge mounted on the A piller), the 25-30 lbs of boost making noise in the cabin got my attention (got to go to pep boys and get some of those little metal squeese clamps).





thanks in advance,

Jon

 

[KenHokie]

I have noticed that you really need to "punch" it to get the transmission to shift out of OD. If I'm not careful, I can slip the TC clutch in OD pulling a grade with my trailer before it will shift down into 3rd. I follow the rule that if the RPM's drop below 1800 in OD while pulling a grade, I push the OD button and drop it into 3rd manually. I have been looking at the Emjay transmission controller but I am still paying for my EZ box.