My Dakota tranny shifting erratically, ideas?

[TruckDriver]

My truck is a '93 and has the 318 with a automatic. It does have 211,000 miles on it. It just started doing this a little over a week ago. I just did a major tune up including gas filter. I looked for a vacuum leak, but couldn't find any. So I took it to a garage to have the tranny fluid and filter changed. They looked for a vacuum leak and didn't find anything either. And it is still the same. Seems like it wants to shift early into a higher gear. Like I'll take off from a stop sign, and it will go into overdrive even if I have the overdrive button pushed in (or off). It will go in for a second or two, and then come back out. It doesn't do this at cruising speeds though. Only seems to do it below 45mph. And when it does do it, it doesn't do it constantly. Sometimes it will go a day or so and not do it at all. Any ideas?

[John_Kunkel]

Are you sure you're not confusing converter lock/unlock for an OD malfunction? The OD shouldn't engage with the control switch off.

The TPS or the brakelight switch are often the culprit in OD/converter cycling problems.

[TruckDriver]

I had someone else suggest today that it could be the torque converter going bad (never heard of that). And I talked to the Dodge dealer here, they suggested the speed output sensor. She said that they actually replaced one today on a newer Dakota. She said it will cause the transmission to basically be confused and not know when to shift???  I wish I knew more about transmissions Now this morning when I went to work, it shifted back and forth at a steady rate til I got it over 45mph. Since then, it hasn't done it again. But I bet it will again tomarrow. They are crisp shifts, so me as well as the Dodge dealer doesn't think it is the tranny itself. I hope not.

[Plumcrazy]

Make sure the transmission throttle cable and lever are working freely.
I'm thinking there should be a return spring down at the lever also.

[Winged 1]

 
My Kids got the same truck. Little newer. Not sure if yours is the same problem but his was doing the same thing. Turns out it was a sesor of some sort in the tranny or the computer. Not sure which. Any way the dealer fixed it and have not had a problem since. @ years or so trouble free. Must be some thing with the Dakota..
Best of luck..

[TruckDriver]

My Kids got the same truck. Little newer. Not sure if yours is the same problem but his was doing the same thing. Turns out it was a sesor of some sort in the tranny or the computer. Not sure which. Any way the dealer fixed it and have not had a problem since. @ years or so trouble free. Must be some thing with the Dakota..
Best of luck..

Does the speed out put sensor sound right? That's what the Dodge dealer mechanic mentioned to me. It is supposed to be one the out side of the tranny.