Jerky transmission

[TMutziger]

I recently had my 48re flushed and the bands adjusted. While they were in there, I had the mechanic install a Transgo shift kit. There are 110,000 miles on the truck. They said the front band was getting pretty thin but should be ok for a while. The problem I'm having now is when I'm goings around five or ten mph and very light throttle, the trans. acts like it can't decide what gear to be in. The truck jerks forward and back and makes a lot of clunking sounds. If I give it enough throttle, it stops and the truck takes off firm and smooth. The problem is only under very light throttle and is worse if towing. Also the shifts under heavier throttle seem a bit harsh, more of a bang shift. Is this normal for the Transgo? I expected it to be firm, but not that firm.

 

[cerberusiam]

Try backing the TV cable off a bit. It sounds like it has a bit too much TV pressure in it at light throttle.

 

[JApol]

isn't the 04. 5 transmission just like the 05. no TV cable, all electric control.

Several years ago I had thesame problem after adjusting my bands. Turned out I had my front band to tight. It wanted to shift into 2nd before the pressure was there to support it and it would kick back and forth till enough speed was there to keep it 2nd.

Speaking of bands I think its about time for me to do mine.

 

[cerberusiam]

isn't the 04. 5 transmission just like the 05. no TV cable, all electric control.

No, its not.

 

[TMutziger]

Thanks for the replies. I'm not very familiar with the TV cable adjustment. Can that be done from outside without dropping the pan? If so, I'll try that first, then maybe try backing off the front band. I live quite a ways out in the county so I like to do what I can myself before taking it 50 miles to the shop that did the work. I'm learning as I go so any detailed instructions are greatly appreciated.

 

[TMutziger]

Forgot to mention one other thing. When I'm towing my 30 ft. fifth wheel the transmission shifts into overdrive a lot sooner than I think it should. If I'm not into it very hard, it will hit OD by 50 mph, the motor lugs like mad and my EGT's get pretty high. The only way I can keep it out of OD is to use the tow/haul button until I've got enough speed up, or keep my foot in it hard until it shifts on its own, which I don't like to do under a heavy load.

 

[ColoradoKing]

I had very similar problems after installing a new valve body. It actually threw codes because it was so rough. I had the pressures checked and the bands adjusted. Works OK now. I also installed a lockout switch for O/D in the knee bolster. This lets me keep the truck in 3rd when towing the fifth wheel. I got mine from ATS, but there are others out there and the wiring is pretty simple.

 

[cerberusiam]

Thanks for the replies. I'm not very familiar with the TV cable adjustment. Can that be done from outside without dropping the pan? If so, I'll try that first, then maybe try backing off the front band.

The TV cable adjustment is done on the APPS bell crank, left front of the engine. You will have 2 cables there, one is the throttle the other the TV pressure. Here is how it should look, pop the locking tab up and the housing slides back and forth to adjust how much the cable will pull the TV lever on the trans. I usuall start with about 1/8 in slack in the cable at WOT and adjust from there.

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The OD shift at 50 mph is about right, you either have to manually control it with the TH button or drive it with more throttle to keep it in drive until your up to speed. Your TH button is just an OD lockout so you can use like you described with no issues.

 

[JJPage]

A picture is worth a thousand words!



If adjusting the TV cable using that picture, the cable with the D and arrows going both directions, slide the cable away from the bell crank, towards the firewall, to hold in each gear longer. Slide it into the bell crank to shift up sooner.



Nice diagram cerb.

 

[cerberusiam]

If adjusting the TV cable using that picture, the cable with the D and arrows going both directions, slide the cable away from the bell crank, towards the firewall, to hold in each gear longer. Slide it into the bell crank to shift up sooner.

Thanks for adding that Jess. Makes much more sense than my ramblings. :-laf

 

[rscurtis]

To disconnect the cable from the bell crank, slide it toward the front of the truck, do not try to pry it off. Ask me how I know that.

 

[llotton]

Is the front band adjuster the one on the outside of the case on the drivers side?

 

[cerberusiam]

Is the front band adjuster the one on the outside of the case on the drivers side?

Yep, thats the intermediate band adjuster.

 

[TMutziger]

Thanks for the diagram and explanation. Hopefully I'll get a chance to work on it this afternoon. I will let you know how it went/if it works.

 

[TMutziger]

I got time to work on the TV cable this morning. It's kinda hard to see and get at without removing the intake horn, but i figured it out. There didn't seem to be much adjustment in the cable. I moved it less than a quarter inch. This was as far as it would go till it hits a stop. Must not take much, because it made a big difference. It definitely holds in gear longer before shifting. It still seemed not quite right, so I backed of the front band a tiny little bit. The combination of the two really made a big difference. No more gear hunting or clunking back and forth. Hard as I tried, I couldn't make it do what it was doing before. Thanks for your help.

 

[llotton]

My Trans. did exactly the same thing after a Trans Go kit install and band adjustment (I didn't do the work) so I adjusted the intermediate band, using a torque wrench and was very carefull to follow the manual exactly and that fixed the problem.