I have a TJ Magna - 4 speed auto box. At what speeds (with no load) should the auto change gears?. My vehicle seems increasingly reluctant to move into 4th gear .... upto 85 km/h or more. Is it because I drive it fairly gently (ie. seldom put the foot down) and the computer has responded to my driving style?. On the other hand, it seems a little too keen to kick back to 3rd (eg. no load, 60km/h and only very very slight incline). If so, what are the options and/or can the computer be reprogrammed (I am assuming that it is computer controlled). Many thanks.

Someone with more info on this can post up but I think you just disconnect battery for ECU relearning but its something similar for your TCU box as well. Try the search function

Is this a triptronic box or a standard auto

if it is shifting ok in all other gears

by what I read it isnt slipping so i dont think
the problem is major or a TCU fault

try a reset (disconnect battery ) see what happens later

Check your transmission fluid level and colour. When was the box last serviced?

I'd firstly check you fluid, do a flush etc.
Then at the same time do a ECU reset and relearn procedure.

I have a TJ Magna - 4 speed auto box. At what speeds (with no load) should the auto change gears?. My vehicle seems increasingly reluctant to move into 4th gear .... upto 85 km/h or more. Is it because I drive it fairly gently (ie. seldom put the foot down) and the computer has responded to my driving style?. On the other hand, it seems a little too keen to kick back to 3rd (eg. no load, 60km/h and only very very slight incline). If so, what are the options and/or can the computer be reprogrammed (I am assuming that it is computer controlled). Many thanks.


I have a 2005 TW, sounds pretty much the same as yours. 60Km/h is definitely the lower end of the threshold for 4th gear. if I go to tiptronic it will not allow it until you cross 60k so I would not expect it to hold there with much throttle at all once you get down to that speed. Mine also loves hanging onto 3rd but once I get to the speed i want to cruise at I intentionally back off the gas to make it shift. If I accelerate in a constant manner without altering the throttle it's more than happy to go to 80-90Km/h in 3rd even if you are on the flat at a constant speed. I don't know if this is normal but it's as if the invecs is thinking you are going up a hill and holding the gear. I find it annoying too but i've had the computer reset and the dealer could not fault it so I drive around it. From 70km/h on the car's pretty happy to be in 4th.

I have a 2005 TW, sounds pretty much the same as yours. 60Km/h is definitely the lower end of the threshold for 4th gear. if I go to tiptronic it will not allow it until you cross 60k so I would not expect it to hold there with much throttle at all once you get down to that speed. Mine also loves hanging onto 3rd but once I get to the speed i want to cruise at I intentionally back off the gas to make it shift. If I accelerate in a constant manner without altering the throttle it's more than happy to go to 80-90Km/h in 3rd even if you are on the flat at a constant speed. I don't know if this is normal but it's as if the invecs is thinking you are going up a hill and holding the gear. I find it annoying too but i've had the computer reset and the dealer could not fault it so I drive around it. From 70km/h on the car's pretty happy to be in 4th.


I have a TJ and have the exact same experience however it wasn't always like this and never used to hold 3rd as long as it does now. I have been trying to recall exactly when it started and I think it was either after a service or after a battery disconnect whn installing some radio gear. For now the fix I am going with it needing a gear box service as it's overdue.

1st to 2nd @ 20km/h
2nd to 3rd @ 40
3rd to 4th @ 60
Under very gentle driving. I find if it is holding onto a gear that it is usually for a good reason, most of the time the traffic gets moving a bit quicker and it saves it from having to kick down. Its such a cleaver unit, the way it predicts the future.

1st to 2nd @ 20km/h
2nd to 3rd @ 40
3rd to 4th @ 60
Under very gentle driving. I find if it is holding onto a gear that it is usually for a good reason, most of the time the traffic gets moving a bit quicker and it saves it from having to kick down. Its such a cleaver unit, the way it predicts the future.

My TJ 4Spd pretty much changes in the same pattern but it will not go into 4th at 60Km/h unless I take my foot off the accelerator.

Should still drop into 4th lower than 85kph, particularly on light throttle. Heavier throttle would cause it to shift at higher speeds. I'd expect it to shift into 4th between 50kph and 60kph under light throttle. Probably just needs a service to re-set the shift points (if that works with these units!)

Should still drop into 4th lower than 85kph, particularly on light throttle. Heavier throttle would cause it to shift at higher speeds. I'd expect it to shift into 4th between 50kph and 60kph under light throttle. Probably just needs a service to re-set the shift points (if that works with these units!)

The 4 speed auto won't shift into 4th at all under 60km/h, regardless of throttle application. Heavier throttle in 1st gear, then easing the throttle off in higher gears will actually cause the gearbox to shift sooner, so the exact opposite of what you're saying.

yeah sounds normal to me, and i like it, on inclines it will drop back to 3rd without extra throttle and hold it untill it levels out, as far as i know it uses load on the box plus speed, throttle position and also what it has deemed your normal driving style to decide where to be, works well 95 percent of the time. i like the auto and is the best ive driven.