2007 LR3 HSE. Just noticed my LR3 won’t automatically upshift to 6th normally. It will eventually if I continue to accelerate to about 70 mph instead of under low acceleration upshifting at 45 mph to 50 mph. If at 50 I take foot off gas and put it in neutral then back in drive it shifts to 6th. If at 50 I put it in to sport then back to drive it will shift to 6th. I’ve checked/changed transmission fluid no difference. Any thoughts?

 

I have been fighting this problem for some time.
I got limited results by cleaning the throttle body, MAP sensor, keeping air filter clean and resetting engine adaptive learning. Also, changing the transmission fluid and resting adaptive learning for the transmission seems to help it.

It is most notable when I have the roof rack, awning, shower curtain fuel cans and the 4 big 9 inch off road lights mounted when going overlanding for a few days (or weeks).
It is less noticeable when the car does not have all that extra weight and aerodynamic drag when when not set up for overlanding.

It may be torque converter related or it may be engine related. Remember the transmission reacts to the load on the engine. if it is bogged down or not performing up to spec, it will the transmission in a lower gear where there is less "load" on the engine.
In the mean time just push the accelerator pedal to the floor very quickly and it will up shift into 6th or move it over and manually slide it into 6th.

I honestly think the lack of power form an engine with 160,000 miles in conjunction with a torque converter/transmission that has been worked like a rented mule may be the cause in my case. (overlanding equipment and trailers demand a lot of performance from our trucks).

Hopefully some one has a better suggestion that may work better in your situation.
Let us know what you find out.

Jeff

 

Thanks for the suggestions, will give them a try and see if it helps and report back the outcome.

 

Resetting adaptations like Rufflyer said would be an easy thing to do. You would normally do this when you change the fluid. Let us know if this makes a difference.

It doesn’t sound like a sticky solenoid since you are able to manually goose it into 6th. If you can do this reliably, that also potentially eliminates a bad terminal at the electrical connector.

 

If in Sport from a stop, will it shift normally up through 6th?

The shifter assembly has a bunch of electrical connections that can be spilled on from the console. It might be worth a close inspection there too.

 

Sport does not use 6th.

 

I originally thought this but i use sport mode all the time and it definitely shifts into 6th gear, sitting on 100kph at 1500rpm.

 

Then you have an issue. 6th is overdrive and it should not be engaging in sport mode. 6th should only engage in automatic or during command-shifts.

 

Can confirm .. my sport mode never uses 6th

 

So after a fun time with the EPB I’ve finally got the rear wheels on and running again. Tried the MAF and throttle body cleaning. Changed all spark plugs. The car idles steady and has good performance, not sure if I can really tell the difference. Reset Transmission and engine adaptations. Unfortunately no change. Still doesn’t automatically shift to 6th at 50 mph. If I continue to gradually accelerate to 75 it will then shift to 6th. If I then slow down it will stay in 6th. If I step on it at 75 it downshifts properly and then will upshift immediately when I take my foot off the gas. So it’s only between 50 mph to 75 that it won’t upshift at even acceleration.