Hi, car is now always launching in third, very slowly of course and only way it launches in first is by manually puting the lever in L then it launches ok but when you put the lever in second it will go to to 2nd gear and inmediatly to third, barely usind 2nd gear. There is no flashing light on the dash but the E brake light (!) is on I think it has nothing to do with the trans ??? Reverse works ok and at hiway speed it goes ok O/D works.
What is causing this? Is there a way to narrow what´s wrong? Why the tranny won´t downshift???

 

The check engine light is not going to flash for trans issues.

Find a small plastic box inside the engine compartment, might be on the passengers side strut tower. Inside the box are electrical terminals.

Turn on ign switch, O/D switch ON.

Use electrical wire or a paper clip to connect the TE1 and E1 terminals.

If any trans codes the O/D light will blink the codes out one numeral at a time. Such as 4 flashes, pause, 2 flashes, pause, equals code 42.

If no codes are stored the light will flash at about 2 times per second.

You might try changing all of the trans fluid.

 

Just tried with ign. switch in "on" and the O/D light won´t work although when driving say at 60mph if you switch the O/D I can feel the trans. making the change to O/D ??? Thanks for your help.

 

Ok problem solved, it was shift solenoid Nbr. 1, this is what we did: take the trans.oil pan out and unscrew both solenoids then check each of them by applying 12 volts and ground, the first one was ok the second was completely dead got one used for some $20 and it´s all OK now . Just wondering why the O/D light on the dash wont work, maybe the bulb is shot.

 

Great job!

The O/D light is connected directly to the switch. Try turning the O/D off when driving to determine if the system works. The RPM should increase with the O/D off. If the system works, most likely the light is bad.