My transmission started recently shifting pretty hard into first and second gear. There is no slipping, just pretty hard shifting that wasn't hard before. The check engine or O/D light does NOT turn on or blink. Are there known causes for this or anything to look for first. It seems like either an electronic or valve body issue. Thanks for any help.

 

Could be a few things

1) Could be the filter is clogged. This causes the fluid to create a void when shifting. Once the "void" is filled in, it causes a hard shift.

2) Could be slipping or worn bands.

I would drop the pan and see how much sludge you have in the pan.

Thats going to tell you alot.

DO NOT put in any additives that help with friction because it will actually cause more problems than it's going to help.

 

Easier fix than expected. I had a similar issue with my 2000 expo. If the vehicle was not perfectly shifted into D it would cause hard shifting. Turned out it was water intrusion into the neutral safety switch.

So while trying to diagnose the issue today I put it into D and it shifted perfectly, then I stopped parked it put into D a little sloppily and it acted up again. So from what I can tell it is the MLPS that is bad. After a visual inspection it is very rusty around the nylon bushing, and can assume it has had a little water intrusion.

I'll replace the part and see. It's only $25 and about 30 min to replace, so it's worth a try.

 

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...VofLAa8G7zTIIw

 

Thanks for that link. I'll pull codes and clean electrical contacts on sensors. Hopefully it was just the MLPS not knowing what gear it was in. It only shifted really hard from 1st to 2nd. 3rd and 4th were like butter.