I searched the archives but I didn't find anything quite like the problem that I have with my automatic transmission.
FYI, I have 141,000 miles on the Trooper. I haven't changed the tranny fluid since about 65k. I haven't noticed anything unusual when driving it lately.
I started my Trooper and began to head to work the other morning. About 30 seconds after I began driving down my block my radio cuts off, the alternator gauge shoots all the way up, the 4 wheel drive light comes on, and the transmission appears to go to 3rd gear (what I gather is "limp mode"). It won't shift by itself at all. Then about 10 seconds later the radio comes back on and the gauges and lights go back to normal (but the tranny still will not shift on its own). I ended up just shifting it manually to get to work which worked fine.
After work I got into it and the exact same scenario happened (radio cut off, alternator gauge all the way up, 4 wheel drive light on, straight to 3rd gear...10 seconds later everything back to normal except tranny in 3rd gear and won't shift on its own).
I stopped for gas on the way home. After getting gas I get in and nothing out of the ordinary happens. It shifts fine all the way home. Today, I got in to see what it did and it went back to its old trick of going to 3rd gear. I stopped and turned it off and back on again and was able to drive it without issues around the block a few times.
I want to say it is something electrical (probably just cuz I don't want to pay to have it rebuilt if necessary). But, are the electrical issues just clouding the issue? Is it going to limp mode cuz fluid is low, transmission is damaged, etc.? I hate to even ask the question before checking the fluid level but I'm going to anyway.
Sorry for the long post. Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks.
