Chrysler Repair: 1993 Dodge Dakota transmission upshifting too soon-reply, best guess, dodge dakota

Question
Hi again Roland,

I wrote you on Feb. 20th about my transmission upshifting too soon. Sorry about the delay in getting back to you but it took awhile before I could work on it. I ended up dropping the pan and found 1 small chip of metal. I checked the wiring from the PCM to the solenoid wiring in the transmission and everything checked okay. There are 5 spools in the valve body. I took an air hose and shifted them with air several times each, making sure they moved freely. There was 1 that I couldn't tell if it moved or not. I put the pan back on and put the same fluid back in it and hoped for the best. It's been shifting okay ever since(about 3 weeks now) except when the engine and transmission are cold it will delay in shifting into 4th. I guess there might have been some trash in the valve body spools. That's my best guess because as I said before all else checked okay. Thanks for your advice and your time in replying to my problem. Much appreciated.

Thanks, Dennis

Answer
You are very welcome. Thanks for that information. One interesting report that is going around in the various Chrysler groups is that the electronic transaxles that are showing shifting abnormalities (Sluggishness/harshness but without severe issues causing limp-in mode, however) seem to repond rather amazingly to the substitution of Mobil synthetic trans fluid for the usually recommended ATF + 3 or +4, depending upon the year of manufacture (though I believe only +4 is readily available). But if you are up for changing out all 10 or so quarts, doing it at a shop with such a total changeout machine, and are willing to pay $4/quart, then it might prove worth while, particularly if you get to an extreme situation where the choice is that, or a rebuild or significant repair. No guarantees but it seems to have some basis.
Roland