2.4L automatic SHIFTS TOO SOON

[Spike440]

My 01 alero shifts extremely fast when you stomp on it, but the rpms stay at about 2200 ( never more than 3k ) but if i go through the 1-3 the acceleration stays at a normal rate. I have no idea what is causing this I dont believe its the engine because i just had an engine out of a sunfire dropped into it and it did the same thing before. I might not be describing it specific enough but maybe I can take a vid of it on my way to work or something then you can see it very clearly. Let me know if any of you have any ideas, its been bugging the crap out of me! thanks :)
also this forum is very helpful and awesome, ive been on here nonstop since last night haha

[[ion] C2]

So you're saying at WOT it shifts at 2200 instead of 6450?

[Spike440]

Im assuming WOT is wide open throttle, so yes, it shifts at a very low rpm at wide open, and accelerates slower than my mercury tracer that runs on 3 cylinders. XD

[Spike440]

think Its a tranny problem? I tried googling a ton of different things but nothing comes up for the problem im having

[Chris2000]

Did you try cleaning your throttle body out? Simple things like that can have a huge effect.

[Spike440]

It did this when i purchased it and the motor blew so I had a motor from a sunfire dropped into it. When they drop a used motor in do they use the original throttle body, or the one from the other engine? im not sure on this but no I havent cleaned the throttle body out. If I put the car in 1 and accelerate it will accelerate quickly, i just have to push the shifter into 2 and then to 3, then to drive to get to overdrive, whereas if its in drive and i floor it, it will hit 2nd at 30, then overdrive at 40

[AlbinoMonkeyRat]

is it throwing any codes? this sounds like either a problem in programming or compatibility from the new engine and the old transmission.

[Spike440]

It did it even with the old engine though. and the service engine light is not on.

[Spike440]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfGu7kvvkwM
this is what it is doing...

[Weazel]

Did you try resetting it?

[Spike440]

how would you reset it? and reset what?

[Nate's Alero]

unhook the battery for a night

[Spike440]

I had a new battery put in it when i bought it, would it have to be unhooked for more than 30 mins?

[Nate's Alero]

I had a new battery put in it when i bought it, would it have to be unhooked for more than 30 mins?

1 hour or more

[Spike440]

both terminals? i was thinking about it and the battery was unhooked for about 2 days while the replacement motor was being put in.

[[ion] C2]

disconnect the catalytic converter flange and see how it drives after that (ridiculously loud obviously but try it)

[heineck]

watch out john deere alero commin down the street

[Spike440]

It doesnt downshift either, if im in overdrive and floor it no matter the speed it stays in overdrive.

[Th0r]

Pull the codes. Your SES light is on. That usually means you have a problem...

[Spike440]

SES light isnt on, the TRAC OFF light is on, and "low washer fluid" lol i tried to zoom in the camera so you could read it.

[AlbinoMonkeyRat]

maybe fill your washer fluid? lol

really, I have no idea now. I'm sure if you can get your car hooked up to a computer (code reader, maybe even hptuner??) you can see wtf is going on, and maybe develop a fix from that.

[Spike440]

the hoses arent connected yet Lol! i brought it to the shop here in town and they didnt know so they refered me to a guy that specializes in transmissions lmao

[clutch1]

Hmmmm.

Does this trans have any external controls??? Throttle cable/vacuum modulator??? Those could cause issues, but those are usually harsh shift issues.

If it's electronically controlled, I would suspect a sesnor on the new engine has issues.
Check the MAP, TPS, and MAF first off... basically any load calculating sensors..

Sounds like the comp isn't realizing it is as loaded down as it really is, and isn't making it shift as such.. That'd be my bet.

[Spike440]

the comp thing makes sense, but it had this problem with the old engine too. theres no cable from the transmission, the mechanic i brought it to thought that was the problem but when he started looking around he was like uhhh theres no cable...
ill try doing what weasel said to do and disconnect the battery for awhile. Ill be amazed if it works, because i figured the battery would be disconnected for 2+ days while the new engine was being dropped in. ORRRR maybe the engine out of the sunfire had the SAME problem. and that engine is bad too ;) lol!

[clutch1]

Ohhh, it did it before, too, eh?

Sounds like a scan tool would really help... most let you record data, would be VERY VERY helpful to plug it in and take it out and do some WOT pulls and record what the sensors all said and what the computer was telling the trans to do and so forth.

If you don't have one I'd suggest finding someone who does and who can interpret the data it'll give you.

[Spike440]

if you have one and live in western wisconsin i could be there in an hour. lol. I dont know anyone that has one, i know carquest does it for free but im nowhere near a carquest lol. battery is unhooked right now was out there about 20 mins and took it off quick. went to put my toolbag back in the trunk...couldnt figure out why it wouldnt open when i pushed the button LOL then I realized what i was doing and was glad no one was watching me :p

[clutch1]

I ain't got one :( Wish I did...

[Spike440]

Yeah resetting the computer didnt work. :(
get one and let me borrow it!

[BlackJack]

@C2 - you thinking clogged cat?

Lemme see if I can drag gectek in on this......

[clutch1]

If the cat's clogged that's SUPER easy to check.

Alright, get a vacuum gauge (harbor freight, $7 prolly). attach it to a manifold vacuum source (T it into one if needed).

Start the car.. should see 18-21"Hg.. does it read that? Ok good.

Now, tape it to your windshield so you can drive it. Find a nice big hill, and at STEADY throttle about half way, climb the hill. Car will slow down, of course, but keep the throttle steady.

If your cat's clogged enough to cause driveability problems, you will see the vacuum gauge read lower and lower (needle drops from 18" to 10", etc) as exhaust backs up into the manifold.


If it passes that, the cat's flowing freely.

[Spike440]

I dont think its a clogged cat because I can take the shift knob and put it into 1 and accelerate and the rpms will go up I just have to put it into 2 before redline then to 3, then to D to get into overdrive. ( I have to do this every time I merge -_- )

[BlackJack]

just get the thing scanned for codes. Not all transmission codes are going to trip the lights.

[Spike440]

well Im bringing my car to a transmission specialist on tuesday so hopefully I can get this thing figured out. I wonder if its some sort of sensor... Like a speed sensor or something or map/tps sensor


edit - TPS Sensor was 100% dead and the car was running in a "default" mode, where the transmission puts max pressure through the lines because it cant tell what the rpms are at, 30 dollars for a new one and hopefully itll be good as new, going to pick up the part after i eat my hamburger helper, then getting the car to go throw that in there!

[Spike440]

Fail :( wasnt the TPS. Stuck once again.

[clutch1]

Is the new TPS any good? Cheap replacements parts that are brand new have been known to not work good enough.

[Spike440]

I got the mastercraft ( i think ) brand. Has a 1 year warranty on it lol. Im wondering, is there a reason why it would say the TPS isnt working, maybe something with the ECU or even the cable that goes from the TPS to the throttle body?