90 Max cold,slow shifting

I know this has been discussed, but I've haven't found any definitive answers, so here goes: My 90 GXE has been slow shifting when cold, even in this mild fall weather. It seems it holds the rpm's for a few moments before finally upshifting. Also, it's slow to downshift and seems to build rpm's before dropping into the next lower gear. This tranny's been rebuilt ~6 or 7 years ago. In really cold weather (below 35F) it won't upshift into 3rd until it's been running for about 2 miles. Definitely temperature related there. It's also on occasion, locked into 3rd and won't downshift until I shut down, restart and get going again, but this is very infrequent and usually happens in the morning. The power light flashes about 16x and then goes out. I can't find any diagnoses for 16 quick flashes in the shop manual.

This is what I'm thinking it could be:

-dirty valve body (I took it out and cleaned, then flushed fluid about 4 years ago. Have changed fluid 2x since)

-intermittently faulty or sticking shift solenoid

-worn oil pump not providing enough line pressure

-bad/old tranny temperature sensor (inside valve body)

-too thick ATF (using Dexron III) Maybe different, thinner fluid??

NissTech, do you have any experience and/or answers for these symptoms? Thanks for any help or direction anyone might offer!

Chris

90 & 94 GXE's
Reply to
Chris H
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Chris, I think you are on the right track, I thing the problem lies in the valve body. I have seen/experienced similar problem with sticking/stuck spool valves and broken accumulator springs and tired shift solenoids.

as far and the O/D light flashing a code, I don't have a shop manual at home co I can't look it up.

FYI , the tranny has an internal oil temp sensor that governs shift points when the trans oil is cold, it is not uncommon to have the trans not shift "normally" till the oil warms up.

Reply to
NissTech

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