Hard down shifting

[c214dick]

We were about 5 miles from home coming from the rally. As I was exiting the tollway my Dodge downshifted, very hard, all the way to first gear. When we pulled away from the light it upshifted fine but the next time we approached a light the hard downshifting started again. This continued for a couple more miles and than everything was normal.

When we got home I checked the transmission fluid and it was OK. Later we went out to run some errands and again it worked fine. I'm going to make an appointment tomorrow with our local transmission specialist but was looking for some suggestions before making the call.

I have a 2003 Dodge 3500 automatic, 5.9 Cummins HO engine. Please no Dodge jokes as this is like my 4th child. Well maybe a couple.......

Thanks

[scductman]

Dick I have seen this before. there is 2 silinoids in the trans I think that will cause this. just a suggestion ask the trans man about them. JMHO.
bobby

[Art-n-Marge]

My previous Ford F-250 was having the hard downshift when getting down to 2nd or 1st when I was towing and using Tow/haul. When I was not using tow/haul the shifting was normal. Unfortunately, I had just traded in my prior TT for my new Monty and then traded in the Ford for a newer model with higher tow numbers to tow it.

I never looked into it and completely forgot to mention it at tradein - but they probably figured it out (I think the owner gave it to his son since I had so many nice addons left behind on the truck like a Pioneer GPS, LineX sprayon, and Banks 6 pack bundle with pillar gauges) I figured it was a wash.

I'm interested in knowing what you find and if you were using a tow/haul mode on your Dodge.

[c214dick]

The tow/haul is not on my 03. I am rated to pull 15,900 though so I know I'm not over weight. I will post the answer and it sounds like the solinoid might be the culprit, thanks.

[c214dick]

My baby goes in on Monday morning. It may be my imagination but I think it's starting to hang up on the upshift now. The transmission guy didn't sound too concerned and suggested that it may just need normal maintenance and adjustment.