Sam wrote:
>
> *snip*
> >> *My 95 SLT 4x4 Ext CAb 3.9l also downshits to second when in cruise
> >control when going up a hill. The trip from Roanoke to Norfolk, Va. is
> >hilly enough between Roanoke and Blackstone that I tried an experiment
> >with Cruise and no Cruise. By not using Cruise, I increased my milage on
> >that trip from around 17 w/cruise to just over 20 without (not trying to
> >maintain 60/65 going up hill. I too have questioned the dealer (service
> >manager himself) about the double shift and was told that that was
> >normal. Funny thing though, the service manager of Virginia Beach Dodge
> >did not know that the transmission fluid was scheduled for change at
> >12,000 for schedule B service. I wonder how much they really know about
> >our vehicles!
> > Does anyone out there have a dakota 3.9 that does not downshift
> >to second gear going uphill in Cruise control.
> >
> >--
> >
>
> My '91 non-Magnum V8 Dakota w/automatic and 3.55 gearing had the same
> double-downshift problem. I had a section of I-8 between Alpine & El Cajon
> (in San Diego County) where I would be cruising along @ 65-70 and hit a VERY
> small, but steep hill and the tranmission would downshift from OD to 2nd, then
> slam into Drive, then 2 seconds later go back into OD. VERY annoying, especially
> when pulling a loaded trailer, and the sharp jolt is enough to cause the
> surge brakes on a boat trailer to activate, making a 10 second ride of push
> and pull!!
>
> My '95 goes through the same area fine...Funny thing is the first time
> I drove through it w/'95 Dakota I expected another exciting ride, but NOTHING
> happened!! ( I now have a Magnum V8 & w/ 5 speed :p )
>
> Here's a few things I noticed about the automatic vs. 5 speed:
>
> The automatic has a kick down circut that kicks down the trans from OD...It usually
> occurs around 3/4 throttle. The amount of the kick down is usually to 2nd gear... To
> avoid this, try getting out of OD BEFORE the kick down takes place... Then the tranny
> might stay in D a little longer before going into 2nd (it worked for me pretty good).
>
> Another funny thing is that my 5.2-non Magnum Dakota would not/could not go over 85
> MPH on a flat run. The reason? Well when you are 3/4 throttle the WOT (Wide Open
> Throttle) sensor thinks "Gee, this guy needs more power, I'll down shift." The truck
> down shifts to D (not 2nd) and the RPM's go to 5000 RPM (much too high for a pre-Magnum
> V8) and the rev. limiter fires off... You then go back to OD, and start the process all
> over again...
>
> The '95 w/Magnum V8 & 5 speed has no problem with downshifting (push in the clutch,
> tap accelerator, move gear-selector :), and actually pulls MUCH better... Pulling boats
> out of boat launch ramps requires NO throttle...and idles away w/4000 lb. boat in tow.
> The flexibility of the gears is great: 1st = idle to 20 : 2nd = 10-40 : 3rd = 25-70 :
> 4th = 35 - 104 : 5th = 42 - ???(haven't been there yet!)
>
> The cruise control is a major pain with the 5-speed too. The accel & decel going
> over hills can be a pain. It seems like you are riding the brakes on down hills, and
> playing catch-up on the hills...(actually you are going the SAME exact speed all the
> time.) It would be nice if the truck would allow for a little run-ahead on the down hill
> vs. moving the throttle 10 times a second trying to slow the the EXACT speed. I guess as
> a trade off the up-hill speed holding ability is worth it.
>
> ...Sam '95 SLT
>
>
> *
Performed an experiment last night on a trip to North Carolina. On a
flat straight away with cruise on I simply turned off the OD. At 65 mph
the revs jumped from 1800 to 3000. It appears that what I thought was a
downshift to second is actually the torque converter first unlocking (
the revs go from 1800 to about 2300 ) and then a downshift to third (
3000 ). I tried to work out the math, but I really don't know too much
about the formulas; the figures I got didn't work out. Should a 3.9L
magnum automatic with 3.55 gears turn 3000 rpm at 65 mph in third gear,
or do I have a problem? It seems to me that when the torque converter
unlocks that I should be in third gear and not experience a downshift.
Comments please!
Wayne
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Jun 20 2003 - 12:07:24 EDT