transmission shift problem, no cruise

[thadpole]

Have a 93 transport with 3800 which I have driven daily without even a hint of a transmission problem. Today, my wife went power-shopping with it. When she left for home (transmission was probably hot), it would not shift out of 1st gear. We got it home and I did some trials and here are the symtoms...
1. Sometimes it will not shift out of 1st but you can always shut it off, restart, and it will go into 2nd or 3rd, but NOT 1st. Otherwise, here are the majority of the other symtoms...
2. Most of the time, I can put the shifter in 1 or 2 and it will be in 2nd gear, but it will not go into 1st.
3. If I put it in Drive, even when the car is not moving, it will be in 3rd gear and will slip if you try to take off. I can shift it down to 2nd manually and take off fine; then shift into 3rd when speed is built up.
4. The cruise control seems to have quit working at the same time the tranny quit working. I know the TCC is tied to a switch on the brake pedal, but I tested the switch and it seems to work fine. It should be normally closed.
5. If I disconnect the transaxle connector, I still have the same problems 2 thru 4 listed above, but never the first problem (staying in 1st gear)
6. Sometimes the checkengine light is on but I can't determine a specific situation. How do I check the code?
Thank you for any help you can give me!!!
...thadpole...

[nicke66]

Originally Posted by thadpole

Have a 93 transport with 3800 which I have driven daily without even a hint of a transmission problem. Today, my wife went power-shopping with it. When she left for home (transmission was probably hot), it would not shift out of 1st gear. We got it home and I did some trials and here are the symtoms...
1. Sometimes it will not shift out of 1st but you can always shut it off, restart, and it will go into 2nd or 3rd, but NOT 1st. Otherwise, here are the majority of the other symtoms...
2. Most of the time, I can put the shifter in 1 or 2 and it will be in 2nd gear, but it will not go into 1st.
3. If I put it in Drive, even when the car is not moving, it will be in 3rd gear and will slip if you try to take off. I can shift it down to 2nd manually and take off fine; then shift into 3rd when speed is built up.
4. The cruise control seems to have quit working at the same time the tranny quit working. I know the TCC is tied to a switch on the brake pedal, but I tested the switch and it seems to work fine. It should be normally closed.
5. If I disconnect the transaxle connector, I still have the same problems 2 thru 4 listed above, but never the first problem (staying in 1st gear)
6. Sometimes the checkengine light is on but I can't determine a specific situation. How do I check the code?
Thank you for any help you can give me!!!
...thadpole...

Use a paper clip to teminate the two upper connections to the right in the diagnostic connector. It is located under the steering wheel, above the brake pedal to the left. Look at the picture of the connector at:
http://pweb.de.uu.net/pr-meyer.h/aldl.htm
Then, turn the ignition on and count the flashing of the CEL.

[LMP]

Here are the codes that are readable from the OBD1 flashing CEL as described above. www.avigex.ca/xport/3800codes.jpg
It is rather limited and vague about the transmission. (OBD2 is more detailed). I will scan a few diagnostic pages that deal with your symptoms and post them here . Check later.

[thadpole]

I am getting a 12 and a 31 on the error codes. Not sure what 12 is. 31 is PRNDL input circuit. Any ideas?

Followup: I checked again, add 36 and 42 to the list of codes.

Originally Posted by LMP

Here are the codes that are readable from the OBD1 flashing CEL as described above. www.avigex.ca/xport/3800codes.jpg
It is rather limited and vague about the transmission. (OBD2 is more detailed). I will scan a few diagnostic pages that deal with your symptoms and post them here . Check later.

[LMP]

12 just signals the system is in the diagnostic mode. It does not signal any problem.
31 and 36 are relevant with your symptoms. Simple things first: I'd check all electrical connectors to the transmission for corrosion, disconnection or chaffing.

[thadpole]

It appears all the wires are still in the socket and intact. There is no corrosion on the terminals. Are there any voltage or continuity tests I can do on the plug?

Originally Posted by LMP

12 just signals the system is in the diagnostic mode. It does not signal any problem.
31 and 36 are relevant with your symptoms. Simple things first: I'd check all electrical connectors to the transmission for corrosion, disconnection or chaffing.

[LMP]

www.avigex.ca/xport/dtc31.jpg
www.avigex.ca/xport/dtc36.jpg
www.avigex.ca/xport/transaxleconnector.jpg

Possibilities listed in shop manual also include:
Wiring and connector failure
"A" shift solenoid failure
PCM QUAD DRIVER not grounding (would show a 56 fault code)

[thadpole]

I just ran the van again and got a code 56 (quad driver).
Another noteworthy symptom is that, when I start out cold, it is stuck in first gear. But, if I shut it off and immediately restart the van, it will go into 2nd and 3rd, but NOT first.
Another question... where does the cruise get its speed signal from? Could it have something to do with the transmission shift problem?.. since the cruise quit working about the same time as the tranny?

Originally Posted by LMP

www.avigex.ca/xport/dtc31.jpg
www.avigex.ca/xport/dtc36.jpg
www.avigex.ca/xport/transaxleconnector.jpg

Possibilities listed in shop manual also include:
Wiring and connector failure
"A" shift solenoid failure
PCM QUAD DRIVER not grounding (would show a 56 fault code)

[thadpole]

I am now getting a code 56 consistantly. Is there a test procedure for the quad driver?

[LMP]

Check this out:
www.avigex.ca/xport/dtc56.jpg
www.avigex.ca/xport/transaxle.jpg
www.avigex.ca/xport/transmissionranges.jpg
THis generally does not proves the quad driver wrong: it just tells the related circuit does not comply with the status of the quad driver. So it may mean an opened solenoid coil...I,ll check for other hints in the diagnostic pages....
Solenoid A applies for 1st and 4th...failure would let you with 2 and 3 only. However, Sol A is required for reverse too....but disconnecting the plug will let you go into reverse anyway, proving there is some redundancy between the hydraulic control and the electronic control, the crossover point of which is not clearly defined......
Check across all transmission files and servo at www.avigex.ca/xport .