Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Still having ATS transmission trouble

[ZEEEW]

Hello all



Got the third v/b from ATS installed, shifting better, but we are only "sometimes" getting od, still no lockup. Can someone post a wiring diagram with voltages at the transmission connections, so we can trace wires? Then we can find out for sure if the problem is in the wiring, or if we have transmission trouble still. We messed up the schematic from ATS, cant read it

Is this a potential TPS problem? Also ATS sent a resistor that we put in the curcuit, could this cause a no lockup problem? We have the ATS controller installed too.



Thanks all



Eric

 

[Bhale]

I can't help with your problem (sorry) but please let us know how ATS handles this. Are they ready and willing to help? Any trouble getting parts/service from them.



Thanks

Brian

 

[Strick-9]

Sorry to hear about your troubles. That must be frustrating.



What truck are you working on? Your signature shows a '96 5-speed.



-Chris

 

[ZEEEW]

Truck is a 98 12v auto, 3. 55 gears, 4*4. ATS has been great at sending parts, not so good at returning phone calls though, but Clint has willingly spent alot of phone time with us overall, if we can get ahold of him that is, he is way busy over there.

Yes it is very frustrating , hopefully the problem is not in ATS stuff this time, and somewhere in the wiring.



Eric

 

[Strick-9]

You can't be too busy for broken down customers if you want to be in business tomorrow. To each his own.



For what it's worth, when I unplug my TPS entirely, I get a 3-4 shift at 55 mph and a downshift as soon as my speed drops below 55. Throttle has no effect.



Maybe you should contact Koa Man, wasn't he having problems with the OD shift with ATS parts? I believe he got sent another lockup controller to fab in to control his OD shift at the same speed no matter how much throttle is applied.



Similar to unplugging the TPS on my truck, but I'm sure the PCM programming has changed since '94.



Good luck and let us know what it turns out to be.



-Chris

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by Strick-9

You can't be too busy for broken down customers if you want to be in business tomorrow. To each his own.

Just want to understand this problem? Is this like a do it yourself transmission upgrade? You buy the parts to install yourself and when it does not work, the parts supplier is suppose to get on the phone and tell you how to do a transmission upgrade? Now if you went to an installer they would of charged you for the parts and the install. This way you just have to pay for the parts and everytime you get stuck you write that your not happy on the TDR to get ATS's attention and more free support?? Maybe I am wrong and you paid ATS for the parts and installation and now your back home and your having a problem and you are asking for help and you are posting because maybe ATS or one of their installers can give you a quick answer that can solve your problem? Not trying to be a smart ass just wondering what's up? Some day I will be getting my auto upgraded and I am trying to follow how the different suppliers are handling the TDR members.

 

[ZEEEW]

Hello all



The tcc is working with the ATS controller, goes from about 18 mph to 55 mph, but no od still, worked a couple times at first, now back to od light on(od off) motor has less rpm than od on(od light off), and overspeeding the 2-3 shift in manual, like hitting neutral for a second between 2 and 3, but it shifts ok by itself?

No tcc lockup in auto, probably cause no od? Is a possible wiring problem on our end really ATSs' fault? If the transmission worked before, but after ATS parts, doesnt, I feel they should help all they can with common wiring problems, and ATS has done pretty well here! They just fall a little short on returning phone calls.



ATS has no control over their products once they are shipped, they cannot possibly know what happens to their parts, or how they are installed. To simply ship a new one because the customer says that, hey, it got installed per instructions and doesnt work, is great customer service, in my opinion, and they have done this 3 times now. Clint has been good at trying to talk us through problems when we call him, and we hope to have them all resolved soon. It has been/is frustrating to be true!

We will continue to look into this problem using all available resources and keep you all updated, hopefully with the problem solved!

I looked around a bit on Fritzs' site for a schematic, couldnt find one, anyone have voltages at each transmission harness wire?



Thanks all



Eric

 

[Koa Man]

Originally posted by Strick-9



Maybe you should contact Koa Man, wasn't he having problems with the OD shift with ATS parts? I believe he got sent another lockup controller to fab in to control his OD shift at the same speed no matter how much throttle is applied.



-Chris

I got the extra controller to dial in what speed I want OD. I currently have OD set to come on at 50 and downshift to 3rd below 50. You are correct that it does this no matter how much throttle I have. It will even downshift to 3rd going downhill with no throttle applied and remain in lockup while doing so till my preset lockup speed of 30 is reached. I can adjust lockup engagement/disengagement from 18 to 50 by turning a knob. I can do the same with OD from about 35 to 70, except with my 4. 10 rears, it cannot hit 70 in 3rd. This is just great to maximize engine braking downhill... especially since I have no exhaust brake. This is really a sweet setup and the dual controllers as well as the transmission works just great.

 

[ZEEEW]

Koa Man, does the od controller bypass the TPS entirely, for all shifts, first-second, second-third, or just for the od? Sounds like the no od problem is related to the TPS?



Thanks



Eric

 

[Koa Man]

I would assume so, but I really am not an expert on wiring. I can wire accessories if someone gives me a schematic. The solenoid case connector plug (the one above the P/N switch) from the truck harness is not even plugged in. A different plug is used to run the power and wires for the TCC and OD directly to the controllers. The factory park/neutral switch connector and the VSS connector that goes into the extension housing is used. I have 3 wires connected to the PCM, one each for the TCC, OD and VSS going to the 2 controllers.

 

[JConley]

Hey Eric...

I dont know the history of this. Did ATS send you a VB and TC to install yourself? Did you get the transmission overhauled? If so, who did it?



I would like to help if I can, but I need more of the story. Please go into detail...



John

 

[ZEEEW]

transmission was rebuilt locally by a trusted person, a vb, tc and tc controller were ordered from ATS. First vb and tc arrive, vb was broken in shipment. Phonecall to Clint suggested that we simply take the new springs out of the broken vb and put them in ours. Considering that quite a bit of money was spent for a cleaned and calibrated vb, and not just some springs, this option was turned down and another vb was sent. This one did not shift correctly between 2-3, acted like it hit neutral, didnt seem to pick up signal from TPS, and had no od or lockup. More phonecalls to ATS between us and transmission mechanic on our end, third vb sent. This one had od sometimes, still no lockup. Controller arrives, this does work and allows lockup from 18 to 55 or so, but od still has problems. 2-3 shift works good in auto mode, still acts like it hits neutral between 2-3 if you shift manually.

ATS has been great at shipping us new parts, and has spent quite a bit of phone time with us trying to get this transmission shifting right.

 

[Snow man]

I hope you get it squared away,I know these problems can be frustrating. I would be a little worried about the 2-3 flare on manual shift,this doesnt sound good. What has the trusted rebuilder said about the problems does he think its in the vb,or controller. Bad things can happen when you have 2 different people /vendors involved,sometimes they can both point fingers at the other,and on top of that you did the install. So there can be a mess if you dont work together. This is one of the reasons the trans shops dont want to sell parts to anyone but there dealers/installers.

 

[JConley]

This does sound like the recipe for a mess. Do you still have the stock VB that you could install? Seems to me that if you have installed 3 ATS valvbodys and the problem hasnt gone away, then the valve body isnt the problem. I dont think the electronics could be messed up either since ATS doesnt modify the electronics. The box simply controlls lockup, and if you turned the box off, you would be running in stock form.



My advice is to install a stock VB and see if you still have the same shifting problems. If it doesnt work with the stock VB, then it isnt going to work with the ATS VB. At least this way you can determine if the problem is inside the transmission.

 

[Strick-9]

I have an idea about the 2-3 shift flare.



Could you get a pressure gauge and run two tests please.



First, check line pressure at idle in drive.



Drive the truck around in third gear at a steady cruise and note the pressure.



Now put the pressure gauge on the front servo port. It's the very front port on the passenger side of the transmission.



Drive around in 3rd gear at the same cruising speed as before and note the pressure.



Internal problems causing a 2-3 flare and hanging 2-3 shift point will often show with this test.



-Chris

 

[dsldoug]

zeeew



I am with strick-9



i had to build my old c-6 twice to get rid of the 2-3 flare



i still don't know what was wrong but it was not in the valve body



-doug

 

[Snow man]

2-3 flare,could loose 3rd gr clearances,loose 2nd gr band adjustment,or seal problem,among other things. A Dodge transmission will not last long with a 2-3 flare.

 

[ZEEEW]

Update



transmission builder reset computer and ran a road test with a reader, showing sloenoids on or off. transmission is shifting much better, od works, but when transmission shifts into od, lock up wont work. Also, the od switch does nothing, transmission just shifts by itself. I think I read about how if you bypass the TPS it does this?

2-3 manual shift is much better, slight flare still but much better.

Thanks much to ATS for the patience with ornery customers and great parts service.

Little bro will post opinions of upgraded transmission behind 5 spd motor later, when he can be nice, but so far smiles at more power and the lockup ability, spins tires longer



I will repost the od on/no lock up question separately.

 

[Snow man]

So you have lockup in 2nd,and 3rd,but not OD? . Do you have a mystery switch,that is hooked to the orange/black stripe wire going to the transmission?

 

[Strick-9]

If the transmission is not right. Run a pressure test! Have your transmission guy check the pressures I mentioned earlier. The answers are most likely there.



The longer you run it damaged, the more trouble you are causing.



When did lockup quit working? You mentioned before that the ATS lockup controller worked fine from 18-55 mph.



That lockup controller has nothing to do with the computer 'reset'.



The 2-3 shift flare also has nothing to do with electronics.



We need some more information to help you.



-Chris