Engine & Transmission Post your Engine and Transmission related problems here.

Odd 4 to 3 Downshift

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 24, 2026 | 06:05 PM
  #1  
braden737's Avatar
Thread Starter
|
Starting Member
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 130
From: Waterloo, Iowa
braden737 will become famous soon enough
Default Odd 4 to 3 Downshift

I noticed my transmission has been acting odd during a 4 to 3 shift. It has done it 3 times to me this week however only in the afternoon on the way home, never in the morning.

It happens when I am cruising going 50 or so and I will give the accelerator 1/3 throttle. When I give it throttle it will first jump from 1500 to 2000 rpm (I assume this is normal for the torque converter) however it will then go to 1500 and stay at 1500 for 3 or so seconds while I am still on the throttle steady 1/3. After the 3 seconds it will then rise to 3000 rpm for normal acceleration. This seems to only happen when the engine/transmission have warmed up.

It did something similar during the 3 —> 2 downshift however not as noticeable or as long as the 4 to 3 downshift. It however only did this to me once.

Currently it is -10 F here and I took a drive to get gas today and it did not act up at all. My normal drive is around 4 miles each way and it was warmer today than when the transmission was acting up.

The transmission does not seem to be slipping as the rpms do not rise with lack of acceleration. It is rather as if it gets “stuck” at 1500rpm for a few seconds.

I checked my transmission fluid and it is a darker red color but not brown as if it is burning up. It was at a normal fill level aswell.

I know 4l60e transmissions are prone to 3-4 Band issues, just not sure if this is an issue paired to that or perhaps maybe a computer issue.
 
Old Jan 25, 2026 | 02:34 AM
  #2  
Bass_Surfer's Avatar
New Member
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 54
From: 59840
Bass_Surfer will become famous soon enough
Default

Before it gets to the point of acting badly, just ride gently on the brake pedal - only enough to apply the brake lights --- not actually apply the brakes.

Go through the regular driving modes and observe.

Report back.
 
Old Jan 27, 2026 | 03:04 PM
  #3  
braden737's Avatar
Thread Starter
|
Starting Member
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 130
From: Waterloo, Iowa
braden737 will become famous soon enough
Default

I rode the brake and downshifted from 4th to 3rd with the column and it did nothing weird. I did this at 35mph, and then 55mph. It still only does the hesitation going more than 50mph and accelerating while doing it.
 
Old Feb 4, 2026 | 08:29 PM
  #4  
braden737's Avatar
Thread Starter
|
Starting Member
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 130
From: Waterloo, Iowa
braden737 will become famous soon enough
Default

Here is a video from last week. I am applying consistent throttle the whole video.
 
Attached Files
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Tony H
2nd Generation S-series (1995-2005) Tech
4
Jul 5, 2016 10:02 AM
BigEffingHammer
2nd Generation S-series (1995-2005) Tech
3
Aug 27, 2014 01:39 PM
Franco
2nd Generation S-series (1995-2005) Tech
6
Dec 21, 2013 04:33 PM
hzl6cm
Engine & Transmission
3
Jun 17, 2013 05:00 AM
DimeBlazr
Engine & Transmission
4
Jan 2, 2013 01:05 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:46 PM.