93 Es300 Will Not Shift Into O/d

[Rudster]

I'm new to forums bare with me.

I have a 93 ES300 with 170K. On long trips, usually over 50 miles, the engine will suddenly start to overheat. I pull over and sit for awhile and it cools off in 15-20 minutes. Then I can drive the rest of the way without any problem. I have had the radiator cleaned and a new tank installed. I have changed the thermostat and caps. The hydraulic fan seems to be working fine.

I suspect the fact that the engine is over revving (2500 at 65mph) at high speeds is the problem. I just realized that the trans only shifts 3 times. That would be a 4-speed trans. Is 4th gear the overdrive or is there a direct drive that is not kicking in?

Thanks, Rudy

[Toysrme]

4 speed automatic with a locking torque convertor.

You could run that car in second gear at 65mph for an hour (5200rpm). That needle should still not move...

At any rate the RPM's are dead on where they should be, and you can't count your gears right. :D two -> three -> four. and if you know the car & expect it. you can feel the torque converter lock-up the transmission with the engine when the criteria is met for the TC to lockup.

RPM 1st Gear 2nd Gear 3rd Gear 4th Gear 5th Gear 6th Gear

500 3 6 10 13

600 4 7 12 16

700 5 9 13 18

800 5 10 15 21

900 6 11 17 24

1000 7 12 19 26

1100 8 14 21 29

1200 8 15 23 32

1300 9 16 25 34

1400 10 17 27 37

1500 10 19 29 39

1600 11 20 31 42

1700 12 21 33 45

1800 12 22 35 47

1900 13 24 37 50

2000 14 25 39 53

2100 14 26 40 55

2200 15 27 42 58

2300 16 29 44 60

2400 16 30 46 63

2500 17 31 48 66

2600 18 32 50 68

2700 19 34 52 71

2800 19 35 54 74

2900 20 36 56 76

3000 21 37 58 79

3100 21 39 60 81

3200 22 40 62 84

3300 23 41 64 87

3400 23 42 66 89

3500 24 44 67 92

3600 25 45 69 95

3700 25 46 71 97

3800 26 47 73 100

3900 27 49 75 102

4000 27 50 77 105

4100 28 51 79 108

4200 29 52 81 110

4300 30 54 83 113

4400 30 55 85 116

4500 31 56 87 118

4600 32 57 89 121

4700 32 59 91 123

4800 33 60 93 126

4900 34 61 94 129

5000 34 62 96 131

5100 35 63 98 134

5200 36 65 100 137

5300 36 66 102 139

5400 37 67 104 142

5500 38 68 106 144

5600 38 70 108 147

5700 39 71 110 150

5800 40 72 112 152

5900 40 73 114 155

6000 41 75 116 158

6100 42 76 118 160

6200 43 77 120 163

6300 43 78 121 166

6400 44 80 123 168

6500 45 81 125 171

6600 45 82 127 173

6700 46 83 129 176

6800 47 85 131 179

If the engine could pull the 7100rpm fuel cut-off. It'd be 202mph.

While the transmission may make you *think* the engine is turning over quickly. It is most definately not. Let's face it... Peak power is 5200rpm which in fourth is 137mph, and you could never pull the redline in 4th. Which would be 182mph. Remember it's not a loping nasty !Removed! domestic V engine that falls over trying to turn 5500rpm. It's an import engine that can rev more tha 7000rpm without any modification and not throw, or float valves lol!

(it also makes atleast 90% peak torque for well over 4000rpm starting from high-idle)

[Toysrme]

I'd check the compression / do a leak-down on the cylinders. AND the coolant system.

I'd also replace the timing belt & water pump... The pump fins may have corroded off by now if the coolant has not been changed descently on-time.

[Rudster]

4 speed automatic with a locking torque convertor.

You could run that car in second gear at 65mph for an hour (5200rpm). That needle should still not move...

At any rate the RPM's are dead on where they should be, and you can't count your gears right. :D two -> three -> four. and if you know the car & expect it. you can feel the torque converter lock-up the transmission with the engine when the criteria is met for the TC to lockup.

RPM 1st Gear 2nd Gear 3rd Gear 4th Gear 5th Gear 6th Gear

500 3 6 10 13

600 4 7 12 16

700 5 9 13 18

800 5 10 15 21

900 6 11 17 24

1000 7 12 19 26

1100 8 14 21 29

1200 8 15 23 32

1300 9 16 25 34

1400 10 17 27 37

1500 10 19 29 39

1600 11 20 31 42

1700 12 21 33 45

1800 12 22 35 47

1900 13 24 37 50

2000 14 25 39 53

2100 14 26 40 55

2200 15 27 42 58

2300 16 29 44 60

2400 16 30 46 63

2500 17 31 48 66

2600 18 32 50 68

2700 19 34 52 71

2800 19 35 54 74

2900 20 36 56 76

3000 21 37 58 79

3100 21 39 60 81

3200 22 40 62 84

3300 23 41 64 87

3400 23 42 66 89

3500 24 44 67 92

3600 25 45 69 95

3700 25 46 71 97

3800 26 47 73 100

3900 27 49 75 102

4000 27 50 77 105

4100 28 51 79 108

4200 29 52 81 110

4300 30 54 83 113

4400 30 55 85 116

4500 31 56 87 118

4600 32 57 89 121

4700 32 59 91 123

4800 33 60 93 126

4900 34 61 94 129

5000 34 62 96 131

5100 35 63 98 134

5200 36 65 100 137

5300 36 66 102 139

5400 37 67 104 142

5500 38 68 106 144

5600 38 70 108 147

5700 39 71 110 150

5800 40 72 112 152

5900 40 73 114 155

6000 41 75 116 158

6100 42 76 118 160

6200 43 77 120 163

6300 43 78 121 166

6400 44 80 123 168

6500 45 81 125 171

6600 45 82 127 173

6700 46 83 129 176

6800 47 85 131 179

If the engine could pull the 7100rpm fuel cut-off. It'd be 202mph.

While the transmission may make you *think* the engine is turning over quickly. It is most definately not. Let's face it... Peak power is 5200rpm which in fourth is 137mph, and you could never pull the redline in 4th. Which would be 182mph. Remember it's not a loping nasty !Removed! domestic V engine that falls over trying to turn 5500rpm. It's an import engine that can rev more tha 7000rpm without any modification and not throw, or float valves lol!

(it also makes atleast 90% peak torque for well over 4000rpm starting from high-idle)

I don't understand the above RPM chart. I didn't mention the recent valve job the engine had. I don't want to put a lot of money into the car as I am selling it. I'll inform the buyer that it may need a new water pump and timing belt. Thanks, rudy

[Toysrme]

2500rpm = 66mph in 4th gear...

Your transmission is fine, you don't know how to count gears.

[Nertus]

I happen to have this problem with my 94 ES300. The transmission shifts fine all the way up to third gear, and then doesn't shift anymore. Weather or not the overdrive button is on or off, I only have 3 gears. I am cruising around 65 mph and at 4,000 + rpms.

I've also noticed my ECT/Power light for the transmission comes on at random times.

Before attempting to open up the tranny, are there any common sensors that fail? The car doesn't even attempt to go into fourth/OD, it acts as if it were a 3 speed auto.

Thanks.

[Matej]

Have you ever had a problem with the torque converter lockup? - during drive over 40mph, left the pedal, and it should stick with a gear, and downshift when rpm's are getting lower. What to do if RPMs make a big jump in decrease, when throttle pedal is fully released?

Big THX ;)