All stock 2004 dually auto trans
When pushing down on the throttle if feels as if there is a sticky spot just above idle. When driving around town if not going past the sticky spot (driving like grandma) the transmission has problems shifting to higher gears. The rpm’s get to 2500 before shifting. . But if you get on it a little to get past the sticky spot it shifts fine. But then I am speeding.
When engine cold it does not stick only when engine is up to temp. When towing it is fine because you get past the sticky throttle.

Had it serviced twice now. One time they said it was the transmision. Second time said it was battery cable rubbing on cable. Only left 400 miles on warranty.

Question what is the cable running from transmision to throttle. If I put it in park the throttle moves easy. But if driving throttle pushes hard when having this problem. When running ok the throttle pushes easy.

 

Check your APPS sensor (black plastic box near top front of engine) for binding. Also check your throttle valve cable for free movement. If its not either of those two, you probably have a throttle valve problem in the valve body. Which means drop the tranny pan and maybe drop the valve body to fix.

 

My '04 is doing the same thing. The vb is ruled out. DId you find out what it is?

 

Throttle valve linkage on the VB is the usual culprit. Wear on the throttle valve itself and the acutator causes it to jam. The warmer it gets the worse it can get.

 

To make a really long story just long, I've had two shops rebuild my trans and the problem is still there. It's an 04 518 trans I think. The problem occurs 95% of the time after shifting from P to R or D to R and then back to D. It seems like shifting in R starts the problem. Once in D, if you accelerate slightly but steadily it won;t shift out of 1st or 2nd until the rpms hit about 2300 and finally it will shift. This past week I had the trans shop look at it again after they rebuilt it. I only had about 300 miles or less on it after the rebuild before I gave it back to them but the problem was there before they ever worked on it. Also it seems to do it after getting to operating temps. They put in a new vb, and all the sensors and stuff, sorry I'm not a trans guy, but basically went through the whole trans again. They put it on their dyno to check if everything was shifting correctly at certain loads and it worked great on the dyno. After installing it back in the truck... same problem. They are suggesting TPS or PCM. They did say that the PCM was reading 120 psi for the valve body and of course it should only be getting about 40 psi the guy said. HE said that it is a faulty reading which is making something think something is getting too much pressure which is causing the late shift points on 1st and 2nd. Did I just totally confuse you because I am... btw, if you stab the throttle quick it will shift fine from there on out unless you go back to R or even P and then back to D. Oh, my 03 4.7 litre 1/2 ton, 2wd did the same thing.

 

Try this, disconnect the TV cable form the APPS and try it. It may shift funny but check for binding. If it still binds its the APPS or something else.

 

It is your APP probably. Have Timbo01 get you APP. I had mine replaced with his APP and everything is normal now. Shifts fine and goes into O/D now finally.

 

your saying to disconnect the throttle valve cable and then drive it? That will be o.k. to do that? Also see if what is binding... the gas pedal?

What is the APP?

 

Yes, disconnecting the TV cable will tell you if its in the VB, cable, or the APPS-bell crank-throttle cable assembly.

If you disconnect it at the transmissions and it still does the binding its not in the VB. If you then disconnect the cable at the APPS and it still does it its the throttle cable or bell crank assembly.

You can drive around for a little bit with the cable disconnected and it will not hurt anything. It may not shift until high rpm's or it may stack shift depending on other parameters. Just remember to hook it back up when you are done testing.

APPS, accelerator pedal position sensor, is what tells the ECU how much fuel to give the engine. The throttle cable will be hooked to it or an arm the runs it.

With 2 cables and a bell crank there are mutliple places where it could wear and cause a grab, cable housing, pivot points etc. You just have to start disconnecting and reducing the possible problems until you find it.

 

I'll try what you said tomorrow. I got the truck back yesterday and the problem is still there. Here's the thing though. You don't have to put the truck in R for the problem to occur. It also happens just going from P to D and like I said before if you goose the throttle, it will upshift and be fine. Here is what the guy from the tranny shop told me. They adjusted the throttle cable to nominal and connected a scanner and trans computers to PCM and Trans. The scanner got readings on the governor selanoid switch all over the place when accelerating slowly from 400 to 75 but the vb testor was steady so they believe that the PCM or TPS are defective or needs flashing. He said his guess is the re-stat in the tps has a flat spot when it is in a lower position. Do you know where the apps is on the late 03 early 04 models? I really appreciate all your help on this. No one even seems to want to help me out on this matter around my local area.

 

Couple of things first, you have a 48RE transmission in an 04. You have an APPS not TPS, an ECU not a PCM. The trans controls are all done out of the ECU and its connected via the trans control harness. Enough of the terminology lesson.

The harness could be an issues also. Some years had a problem with the harness scuffing the wires by rubbing on a body lip on the firewall. Might want to check the harness just to be thorough.

Might want to check the ECU A & B connectors for corrosion also. Some years had an issue with them sealing moisture out. The ECU is that big gray thing bolted to the block, drivers side of engine down by the pan rail. It will have 2 large connectors with bundles of wires leading to them.

The readings on the gov solenoid or transducer could mean they are bad or possibly a bad connection. Since it sounds like they replaced them so I would look elsewhere first.

APPS will be on the left front on the engine or under the driver side battery. It varies in those years where they are. Just follow the throttle cable from the firewall and it will lead to the APPS.

You might try disconnecting the batteries for 30 minutes to see if that will change anything. It doesn't do what it did on the older turcks but sometimes it will point to a problem.

Try an APPS reset also, with the key on but engine not running slowly deperess the accelerator to bottom and slowly release it, then shut the key off for 30 seconds. It doesn't do the same thing as the older trucks but again it may help point to an issue.

Since your truck has 2 cables, throttle and TV, check them closely where they connect to the APPS. They can wear on the housing and one wire broke will cause a hang you can feel.


Good luck, hope you find a simple issue.

 

Thanks for the lesson! I'll try those options you suggested. Again, thanks for the quick reply. I'll let you know what I find.

 

O.k. quick question. There is a cable beside the throttle cable inside the apps that goes to a black plastic and metal bell housing that has a connector hooked to the bottom of it. When you press the gas pedal, that cable doesn't move at the apps location. It also routes to the firewall near the top of hte motor and then over to the passenger side to a rectangular box. What is that cable for and should it move when you press hte gas pedal?

 

I believe that I found out why the pedal feels sticky. The part where there are three cable routed to beside the valve cover, when you manually depress the throttle cable, it moves about an eighth of an inch before it picks up the tv cable going to the trans. Any thoughts???

 

Thats the cruise control cable, it should not move until you activate cruise. It can get sticky also.