96 GT Automatic shifting problem

[MO351]

My 96 GT has the automatic and 87,000 miles. Last night it came up with a problem of taking it's sweet time on a 1-2 shift. If it does shift into 2nd gear it will do it very slowly. I can manually shift into second and it'll hold just fine. Get enough rpms and shift to D and we're good to go through 3rd and OD. It's just the 1-2 shift is not wanting to shift. What could be the problem? Fix? I'm going to drop the pan today and do a pan fluid and filter change and see what could be in the pan. The fluid on the dip stick looks good though and is full.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Changing fluid is always the best and cheapest place to start with automatic transmission problems. See if you can drain the TC as well...

 

[Gearbanger 101]

Now would be a good time to install a transmission cooler as well. Cheap insurance.

 

[DTNODYA]

I don't really have any tech for ya but FWIW, since it got cold, my truck has been doing the same thing. It stops though once it gets warmed up. Not only is my truck doing it but my Stepdad's Escape (company car) is shifting weird 1st -2nd until it warms up. Weird.

And yeah, change the fluid and filter ... let us know how the fluid looks.