Automatic transmission no passing gear - 1998 Toyota Tacoma

'Passing gear' is a term that means the transmission is down-shifted to a lower gear (e.g., from 5th gear to 4th gear) for improved acceleration to pass another vehicle. There is no physical component called a passing gear in the transmission.
To engage the 'passing gear' with an automatic transmission should require nothing more than pressing the accelerator pedal down firmly. The transmission should downshift automatically to the next lower gear (sometimes it will downshift two gear ratios, depending on your speed and how far you depress the accelerator pedal).

Gear shifts happen depending on how far the gas pedal is
pressed & the load on the vehicle

Transmission pressures change as you drive under different conditions,so the shifts happen at different speeds

There is no passing gear

If you have a 4 speed,you have 3 forward gears & an overdrive
forward gear, plus torque converter lock-up

You saying you have no 4th to 3rd downshift or whatever

Maybe the transaxle is failing mechanically inside-worn out

low fliud pressure in transmission..check levels and change fluid/filter and retry vehicle.

Hi, since you use a dextron type 2 automatic fluid then it is not cause of the sticking gear. Rather it should be as a result of a clogged transmission filter. A clogged transmission filtercan cause problems with changing gears because it will not allow the fluid to pass through the valve body or valve solenoids at the proper pressure. Without pressure, the plates won't move properly and you won't be able to easily change gears. This can be symptomatic either by itself or along with burnt or worn out transmission fluid, and both should generally be replaced at the same time, rather than just replacing one or the other.

When you're in fifth gear and lets say you hit the gas to pass a vehicle for instance your automatic transmission has a detent or a kickdown function which will lower it down a gear to give it more torque/hp for that range in order to pass. I would say that function is at fault. There are 2 ways this functions either by electrical or mechanical means.(mech. which would have a detent cable similar to shift linkage) yours is electrical. You would need to get this checked at a local transmission shop ask for an estimate first, since it's not slipping it won't be too bad. Avoid jaguar dealer at all costs they will screw you royally (I'm a jag owner and do my own repairs for that reason)

ck fluid level,,ck color or smell it to see if it smells burnt,,trans filter could be plug up

it sounds like something broke inside the transmission

smell the fluid, does it smell like burnt rubber, if it does you may have burnt the clutches. also if is 4wd make sure is not in 4wd.

Putting it in four wheel drive does not eliminate the transmission. Honestly, it sounds like the transmission is on it's way out. A 4l60e in one of cars was acting the same way. It required a rebuild.