Topic: 30RH issues...need some help

[95yjman]

So I went wheeling today with my 97 TJ, 2.5L auto. The 30RH trans. Well on the way home as I pulled out of the park I noticed it wouldn't shift into 3rd or lock up the torque converter. So I made the trek home only being able to do 30-35 mph. I checked the fluid and it still seems to be normal redish colored. The trans pan doesn't feel any hotter than the motor's oil pan.. I just got home so I was gonna let it sit for a few hours and let it cool down then take it for a drive and see what it does. Only thing I can think of is it got over heated or something. Doesn't look like I got water in it or anything. Any ideas on what maybe wrong with it?

[sharpxmen]

can the shifter be off (as in not in 3rd but 2nd)? had a prob with the shifter in my camaro where the end of the cable jacket came out of the holder and was off by a bit at the beginning, then eventually couldn't shift anymore and had to replace it (one of the tabs broke and was coming out of the bracket). i have no idea how the Jeep auto is setup but try and move the shifter past 3rd towards neutral and see if it shifts)

[95yjman]

Ok well, I had some supper, afterwards I went out and messed around with the Jeep.  I have found that it seems to be stuck in 2nd gear.  However if I manually put it down in first it will down shift into first gear then.  Then you take off, and manually shift it into second it will shift, then you put in the drive, and it stays in second gear.  If you just put it in drive and don't mess with it, it seems it wants to stay in second gear.  However I put it in 4 low and it will down shift from first to second like it should...

Here's the trans dipstick with it just sitting cold.  I checked it and added some fluid with it hot, idling in neutral..

[MarkyB]

Just to throw this out there.
I had trouble with my 30RH not shifting right.  Turned out to be the throttle position sensor was worn out.  Replaced it and the trans shifted perfectly.

[95yjman]

Turns out I got a little water in my trans!    So I flushed the trans with the help of the wife and pulled the pan and installed a new filter.  It shifts pretty good now.  However now I have noticed that every once in awhile it doesn't want to shift back down into first gear when coming to a stop and then will want to take off in second when the light turns green.  I have to manually pull the shifter down to first and then back to drive and it shift normal in all gears then.  But then it will act normal after that sometimes.  The problem comes and goes..what gives?

[sharpxmen]

did you replace the filter? how did you get water in the transmission? did you check the coolant, if you got coolant in the trans there's probably trans fluid in you coolant.

[95yjman]

Well I did kinda sink it in a big watery hole. So that's why I don't think it's coolent.

[sharpxmen]

could it have foamed out and clogged the filter? (i don't know if its possible or not but just thinking of what it can be).