98 V-6 4WD Auto Trans Rodeo

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Jaime - 10 Sep 2006 00:01 GMT

I recently purchased the afomentioned Rodeo (it has 155M miles) It runs
very well and starts easily. We just drove it 1500 miles over desert
and mountains doing 75 on toll roads, and only used one quart oil. My
question is the apparent lag at very slow speeds between the acclerator
and the trans. When starting out and in a slow speed situation like
almost stopping and then accelerating there seems to be this lag.
Almost like slack in the throttle linkage. when letting off the
throttle at a very low speed it's like a disconnect in the drive train.

Could this be the tranny? Or is this just a quirk of the car?

thanks for any help, Jim

Reply to this Message

Kaz - 11 Sep 2006 16:15 GMT

The trans is French isnt it? I have also noticed that my 96 trans just
doesnt respond like I would like or am used to with my Chevy. These
things are pretty much electronic now and I wish that manufacturers
would allow the end use to modify the shifting patterns with a laptop to
suit themselves or perhaps add a simple downshift button on the steering
wheel or stick. Mine does have POWER shifting mode but i dont really
notice anything much different after selecting it. It doesnt seem to
effect the downshift points like I would like, it only seems ot keep the
lower gears in gear longer which is useful when pulling.

Your 98 should have POWER button on it? Use it. I wonder if someone
has a system out to re-teach the trans?

> I recently purchased the afomentioned Rodeo (it has 155M miles) It runs
> very well and starts easily. We just drove it 1500 miles over desert
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> thanks for any help, Jim

Reply to this Message

Wesley - 13 Sep 2006 04:29 GMT

In the 93-94 Troopers I've driven, the "power" mode only makes the
transmission hold a little longer before upshifting...otherwise, it's no
different.

In our 2002 Trooper, it makes a big difference - not only will it hold a
little longer, it will downshift more quickly if you punch it.

Perhaps the Rodeo's changed at some point as well. I'm guessing the Trooper
changed when they went to the 3.5 v6 and new tranny in 98.

Wesley

> The trans is French isnt it? I have also noticed that my 96 trans just
> doesnt respond like I would like or am used to with my Chevy. These
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
> >
> > thanks for any help, Jim

Reply to this Message

David Naylor - 21 Sep 2006 22:00 GMT

The only thing power shift does is keep the trnas out of 4 overdrive
for climbing hills and such

Reply to this Message

Wesley - 25 Sep 2006 12:46 GMT

If the "power drive" works like it does in the Troopers, I can give some
insight... The older ones (like our 94 Trooper) it just holds lower gears a
little longer. Doesn't seem to downshift any more quickly. In the newer 02
Trooper, it holds gears longer, and also downshifts more quickly. I just
leave it in power drive... I once had to punch it to get some speed quickly
to merge and it just sat there for a while until it finally decided maybe it
should downshift and then took off...power drive cures that problem. Plus,
it's nicer when towing, which we do a bit of. Seems like if you're easy on
it in PD mode, it would actually do better on gas mileage as it keeps it
from upshifting too quickly and working the engine hard in a higher gear...?

Wesley

> > The trans is French isnt it? I have also noticed that my 96 trans just
> > doesnt respond like I would like or am used to with my Chevy. These
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
> The only thing power shift does is keep the trnas out of 4 overdrive
> for climbing hills and such

Reply to this Message