Crazy, I know....

With my tranny troubles, I was PAYING ATTENTION to the rpm sound as it shifted...
1-2...good
2-D...good
D-OD...good
Every thing is looking good...another rpm drop...HUH?

So I pull over and try it again.....4 shifts? That would put my auto trans in 5th....Lets try this again....

So I pull over...NO traffic coming. This time I keep my eyes GLUED on my tach, watching for the corresponding rpm drops at the sound of a shift....
1-2 shift...
2-D shift...
D-OD shift...Should be done, right?
NOPE! Another rpm drop...My TH700R4, somehow, thinks it is a TH700R5!

I did this 3 times, thinking I was crazy or counting wrong somehow....Same results.

 

That 5th shift is the torque converter locking up. This may not be true for your trans, but if you hold it in 3rd gear you will likely feel 4 gears from the converter locking up probably around 35mph. When the converter is locked, you should be able to give it light throttle without the engine really gaining rpm. If you do the same with the converter not locked, the motor will immediately pick up 200-300rpm.

 

That makes sense.

I guess, the way I was feeling it, I was assuming the OD shift was the lock-up. In a way then, I guess our 700R4s kinda are 5 speed autos!