My nephew is driving out to Colorado from Washington with his new 1992 Isuzu Rodeo (auto tranny). My brother just called and said that the rodeo will not shift into high gear - it stays in second... He's almost to Wyoming, but I would hate for him to drive much farther with the tranny like it is.

Here is what I know - It sounds like the fluid level is good. (not sure how they figured that out - does the 1992 have a dipstick???) The check transmission light came on once or twice during the trip, but went off and stayed off before this problem. That's all I know right now.

Does anyone have any ideas on things to check, etc. Modulators? Wiring?

I would think that if it was in limp mode, it would still shift into high range, so it sounds like there is some other issue.

Obviously, this is an urgent request!

Thanks!

I *think* limp mode is 2nd gear. Sent you a PM...

Thanks for the tip. I actully went and looked at the planet site, lots of info on limp mode and possible fixes over there. that definitely sounds like the issue.

I cannot get a hold of the nephew right now, I'll check in with him in a bit and see if he can give me any more info.

HEY JEFF IF YOU CAN GET HOLD OF HIM HAVE HIM LOOK UNDER THE DASH RIGHT ABOUT THE PEDAL ASSY,THE AT CONTROLLER IS BOLTED UP THERE JUST UNPLUG IT IT IS A BLACK FINNED UNIT WITH A BOSCH NAME ON IT , AND THEN JUST SHIFT IT MANUALL UNTILL HE CAN GET TO WHERE HE CAN GET HELP, SOUNDS LIKE A N ELECTRICAL PROB, HAS OCCURED AND IT WILL GO I INTO A LIMP MODE IF ANYTHING ELECTRICAL HAPPENS, JUST START OFF IN MANUAL LOW AND SHIFT THE HANDLE INTO THE FORWARD GEARS AS NECESSARY AND IT SHOULD BE OK, IT JUST ISNT AUTOMATIC ANYMORE JERRY

Hey Jerry and Steve -

Thanks for the advice. He's here now and this is what I know:

1992 Rodeo, 6-cyl with the auto tranny. My nephew, Adam, was pulling a U-haul trailer with a bed and a few other items (probably only about 1200 pounds, total).

A while after he left Seattle, the check tranny light came on. He checked it out and the tranny was not low, but there was tranny fluid dripping underneath on the passenger side - more on the side of the tunnel than the tranny itself. At about that time, the tranny quit going into OD. It would shift normally, but would not go into OD. He was able to drive it at about 55 or so with the RPMs around 3300. (He could have gone faster, but decided to play it safe). About half way here, the light came on, and he checked the fluid was 'low', so he added tranny fluid to get it back up to what he thought was 'full'. (He is NOT a mechanical/car guy - it is possible that he overfilled the tranny). When he got to Fort Collins, CO he checked the fluid again and he thought it was okay.

Interestingly, when he got on I-25 in Cheyenne and started to head south, the tranny started working 'right' again and he had overdrive.

This lasted all the way to Denver (80 miles). He thinks he hit a bump on the hiway, and shortly after that, the tranny wouldn't go into OD.

When he got here, I dropped the skid plates so we could actually see what was going on. As mentioned above, the fluid was localized more on the passenger side of the tunnel, not dripping off the bottom or sides of the pan. Further looking in the engine compartment made me realize (I think) that the tranny breather tube actually sits on the passenger rear corner of the firewall, and that is definitely where the tranny fluid was coming from!!!!

We went to the car wash and sprayed off the tranny, then went for a drive on the highway. The rodeo ran great - shifting all the way from 1st through OD all by itself <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Other things I know - the rodeo has a new alternator. I'll check the plug on that in the morning. My brother cleaned the battery terminals before Adam left on his trip.

I checked the tranny level after my road test. With the engine running, and park brake on, I shifted through the gears, then put it in neutral to check. Fluid appears to be about 1 - 1.5 quarts HIGH.

So - based on what I know -

1.there was/is an electrical connection somewhere that is acting up (what connections do I need to check).

2. Tranny was/is still overfilled. Could 1 - 2 or so quarts too much fluid result in the tranny 'puking' it out the overflow? Does too much fluid have long term effects for the tranny?

3. anything else to consider??

Thanks again for reading the thread!!!