Stuck in winter mode

My '93 Rodeo seems to be stuck in Winter mode as it takes off in 3rd gear all the time now. Can't select or de-select the mode with the switch and have no indicator light on dash. Also, the "check trans" light flashes rapidly all the time. Haynes manual is no help and the stealership of coarse wants me to bring it in. :shakehead It was intermittent at first but is constant now. Does anybody know what might be wrong or how to diagnose it? Thanks. :)

Pop the switch out and unplug it.

then report back.

Thanks 2k, I did that a couple of days ago. Went so far as to take the switches apart to check contacts, but were good. (A word of warning: if you take the winter or power switches apart, BE CAREFUL! There are 2 small ball bearings on springs that roll on the contacts that will dissappear on you! You have been warned! :grinno: )

I did a search, should have done that first i guess, and got some helpful suggestions that I will try. Where is the range selector physically located?

Will post updates.

I don't know if you have a range sensor on your 93?

How is the fluid level?

The level is good. It was just a tad low originally, so I added some Lucas Tranny oil stabalizer. This was an attemp as a fix also. The oil is still slightly red but showing some age. Not burnt though.

The transmission range / mode sensor on your 4L30E is bolted to the shift arm that sticks out the driver's side of the trans case. It's a credit card sized 'black box' with a wire harness plugged into it. If the wiper arm and circuit board in the sensor dont make a good electrical contact, you can get the conditions you have. I would look into the TRS. As far as I know, all 4L30E's have them.
G/luck
Joel

Thanks Rodeo02, I'll look into that more closely tommorrow in the day light. Crawled under it tonight to look for something obvious and found one broken wire and two chaffed wires in the tranny bundle right where it lays across the engine oil pan. Spliced the wires and wrapped in new conduit. I was really excited but as it turned out, all I fixed was the speedometer problem. Not that I'm complaining, I just thought I had a hard fix on the tranny. I'll keep plowing on. Thanks for the help guys. :)

Yep. Check all the wiring you can find around the trans case & exhaust. The 1993-1997 rodeos are notorious for getting burnt or chaffed wiring around the trans, even right thru the wire looms :uhoh: .
G/luck
Joel

Well pulled the range/mode sensor apart today. Contacts looked clean as did the circuit board. Reassembled and reinstalled with no joy yet.

The Haynes manual called it the neutral safety switch but I'm sure it does a host of other functions as well.

I've looked at all wires and sensors to the best of my ability but haven't had any luck yet. I need to find out what a code 34 on the tranny controller is. That's what's flashing.

ive had the same problem, starting out in 3rd grear/winter mode crap, check your wiring harness going to the 3 sensors on the tranny, follow it up to the connector and pull it all out, try re-wiring all of the wires and see what that does, i did it to mine and it worked, it got me out of "limp mode"

Man, this is driving me crazy! :screwy: I had the alternator checked, was all ok. Finally found out what the "check trans" code 34 is from a transmission shop. It's for the MAP sensor. :dunno: So I buy and install one, but it is no help. I can, however, now select and de-select the Winter Mode and the dash light appears, It just never starts off in first gear like it should normally. I'm running out of ideas. Anyone? Anything?