E4OD problems

[hurt4x4]

I have a 1990 bronco 5.8L with an e4od that seems to be having some trans problems.
Fluid level is normal and the fluid looks clean, and trans does not seems to be slipping.
At light to medium throttle the converter seems to be locking and unlocking at odd times in 3rd and 4th and it wants to shift into OD too early. It never stays in 3rd for more than 2-3 seconds unless i give it a decent amount of throttle (or have OD turned off). With heavy throttle it seems to shift fine through all of the gears at appropriate times.
Id like to look into it a little more before saying it needs a trans.
Since it seems to be related to Throttle i was thinking it could have something to do with the TPS or VSS.
I replaced the VSS and nothing changed. Should i look into testing the TPS or am i totally off on this?

 

[GotWood]

I'm sure Lee will come in, but I had a similar problem a couple years ago and took his advice. I picked up a tube of stutter stop from car quest. After a week or so it was fine and never had a problem again.

 

[GotWood]

Also, don't do the trans flush, I've only heard bad things. Drop the pan, change the filter, then new fluid and additive.

 

[hurt4x4]

Also, don't do the trans flush, I've only heard bad things. Drop the pan, change the filter, then new fluid and additive.

Thanks! I've heard that it's not good to do the flushes. I think the PO had done a fluid change and filter not too long ago, but I don't know of any additives.
Where your problems with an e4od also?

 

[GotWood]

I believe so, it is in my 99 e250

 

[transman731]

i would look at the tps first. 99% of the time, a tps will get a bad spot in it and create all kinds of driveability issues.

 

[hurt4x4]

Ok cool, so I'm on the right track with the Tps. I'll try to change it out this week and see what happens. I'm really hoping it is as simple as that.

 

[shawn]

IIRC, you can check the TPS with a meter. Probably just easier to swap it out, though.

 

[snappy]

IIRC, you can check the TPS with a meter. Probably just easier to swap it out, though.

You can but if it is a voltage drop out then it is possible that a meter would not catch it....They are a 5v reference so should read up to 5v at WOT.

 

[shawn]

Yeah, I'd just watch for it to go open or short while running it through the cycle.

 

[transman731]

the problem with trying to watch it go open, is digital meters are rarely fast enough to pick it up. if you had a scope you would see it, also an analog meter is also good at picking it up.