Excessive auto tranny shifting

While driving mountanous roads, I am experiencing lots of down shifting, with big jumps in RPM (3K to 4K) and quick jumps back up (<30 seconds). I've expermented with using the HOLD button and/or the POWER/ECON settings - without much success. I think running at 4K is too high, but I can't find a speed/gear for around 3500 without all this down/up shifting.

Is anyone else experiencing anything like this - or is it just me (or the KIA transmission chip)???

Anyone have a clue what the gear and/or shift settings are for a `99??

I was just wondering at what altitude you were trecking? I know the shifting is very sensitive to even slightly higher loads, either weight or when the A/C works, and adding altitude to these would certainly increase the sensitivity.

LMP, I'm outside of Lake Tahoe in Nevada, so we're talking 5500 to over 7500 feet in elevation. So that may be a factor. Hence my question about the normal shift points. Maybe I need to high elevation chip? And yes, with the A/C on, things are different - so i keep it off going up hill. Its doubtfull it's a weight issue, because it is usually just me, a mountain bike or a kayak as cargo. And with regular gas at over $2.70 a gallon, the tank is rarely full!

Related question while I have your expert attention - while pulling these high RPM's, i smell oil fumes. Not bad, but noticable. I've had the top off to change the plugs and replaced the valve cover gaskets, etc. Is there a PCV type valve or some other area I should check for oil vapors being excessive?

KC

Indeed at 7500 ft, you have already lost 1/4 of atmospheric pressure so it needs 33% more throttle to breathe the same air mass out of the 75% available, thus reduced vacuum and this shifts the transmission as it thinks you are experiencing heavy loads. The computer would need an outside pressure sensor to be able to understand the difference, or a software correction (that would then cause the opposite of what you are experiencing once you return to sea level).
I have no definite answer about the oil fumes...but again, high throttle opening reduces the available vacuum and may be the PCV stops being effective in these conditions. I'd just pay a visit to that valve in case it is partly clogged . THis illustration can help you locate it.
http://www.geocities.com/lmp4203/kiasport/Components.jpg