2 different Y33's, both with crappy 2-3 shifts

[TylerW]

I guess this isn't actually a question but more of an observation.

I have owned two different Y33's..the first a '98 Q45t that I drove from 198K miles to 232K, and the one I currently own, which is an '00 Anniversary Edition with 177K.

Both of these cars shifted the same way: A hard shift from 1-2, then a drawn out, slide-bump 2-3 shift, then a nice, unobtrusive 3-4 shift.

Slide-bump is where the shift begins, draws it out, then ends with a bump as the next gear engages. The '98 did that terribly when cold, then worked ok when hot. The current Q doesn't slide-bump when cold, but acts almost like a band is not releasing until a few seconds after the shift completes. Again, like the other one, it works better when hot but 2-3 still has that "just wanted you to know I'm releasing THIS gear and now i'm going to apply THIS gear" type of shift

Neither has ever slipped, but I'm less than impressed with these RE4R01 transmissions. It's an old, cheap car and I'm fine with living with it, but surely they didn't shift like that when new?

I'm interested to hear from those who have had these transmissions when they were relatively new and low-mileage to know whether this is just how they are, or these two have old-age issues. Thanks men.

[Skibane]

Mine's had a lazy 2-3 upshift when cold, ever since I bought it with 72K on the clock.

It's typical.

[3Q Jay]

all depends on the service regimen since new. Its an RE4R03A, btw.
Don't use M1 ATF if you have those symptoms
the mercon V seems to help a little with this exact symptom
not a 'hard' fix, but BG ATF quik clean followed by their conditioner (use 2-3 x with a lot of fresh ATF in between) will help some.

[TylerW]

I have no idea when or how either of them were serviced, and with this mileage I'm not going to touch it, but thank you for the recommendation.The fluid is red so I'm going to let sleeping dogs lie.

Speaking of shift quality, I would be much more irritated if I had bought one of the latest Ford Fusions like my company uses. That's a 6-speed that was developed by GM and Ford together, and those have the roughest 2-3 shift I've ever seen. They all do it. The revs build, then they hang for a couple seconds, then a lurching shift. How Ford ever thought that was acceptable is beyond me.

[Shawn_hollen]

My 99 Q shifted like that going from 1-2 when I changed my secondary throttle position sensor it stopped so my check into that