Transmission Question
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento California
Transmission Question
Have a 85 automatic with about 42000 miles that me and my wife just bought. The tranny shifts very quickly from 1rst to 2nd and then into 3rd and into OD before we reach 30 mph. Also after being of the freeway and good and hot it will shift oust of OD very late. I have to manually have to shift so as not to not run RPM's too low. I find it hard to believe the tranny is shot already with that little mileage. I know engines and cars pretty well but that was back in the 70's and 80's when you didn't have a sensor for everything on car. Is there anything I could look for such as wires, hoses, etc that cause the problem. Previous owner changed all fluids regularly. Need help!
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,556
Likes: 13
http://sethirdgen.org/tvcable.htm
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,691
Likes: 71
From: Phoenix Arizona
Start by confirming the TV cable that controls the shift points is set correctly
http://sethirdgen.org/tvcable.htm
http://sethirdgen.org/tvcable.htm
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento CA
Thanks for the responses. As the wife of the OP, I guess I get to post the follow up here.
Here's a pic of what we've got without attempting any adjustment. Is it possible to tell from this if it's already adjusted properly? We're a bit unclear on what we should be doing.
Thanks.
Here's a pic of what we've got without attempting any adjustment. Is it possible to tell from this if it's already adjusted properly? We're a bit unclear on what we should be doing.
Thanks.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,482
Likes: 566
From: Clearwater Florida
..... In your pic ... there are three cables attached to a black metal bracket on the side of the intake manifold ... on the bottom one you will see a D-shaped silver piece ... push the D in with your thumb and pull back on the cable that is attached to it ( it may automatically retract ) ... then with the engine OFF , rotate the throttle linkage to full throttle by hand a couple of times ........ ALL the way to full ... you should hear a heavy zip-tie sound as you do this ... when it no longer clicks you have properly adjusted your TV cable .... the converter clutch on and off speeds are controlled by the ECM ... typically lock-up at 41-43mph and unlock around 37-39 ... this can be adjusted in the computer and may have been done by the previous owner to the current settings ... this is usually the work of a tuner ... try PCM for less for a mail order check-up ...........
Last edited by C409; Apr 28, 2013 at 01:07 PM.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento California
Okey I did push the D button in and moved the cable back and forth a couple of times. Not sure if anything happened. Didn't hear or feel any ratchet sound. Did I do it right. Was I supposed to hold D button in when I opened throttle wide open? I did not. Please advise.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 327
Likes: 2
From: se iowa
You want to push the d button in and slide the plastic housing that the cable comes out of as far back towards the windshield as you can. Then with the car off rotate the linkage full swing and let the cable pull the housing back out. If you look at the housing it has little teeth on the back-you should hear these click as the housing is pulled out by the cable.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,556
Likes: 13
because without the locking ratchet it will not retain it's set position
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Instructor
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento CA
Okay, here's wife of OP with the follow up. Thank you, everyone, for all of your great help. We sure appreciate everyone here. We were able to adjust the cable, and things are shifting a lot better now. Whew!
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
The 700r4 in Corvettes is set up by the factory to shift as soon as possible into the next higher gear because of gas mileage.
My '86 will shift into 2nd if I just let it idle in 1st. Not sure exactly what speed that is, but it's around 5 MPH. Then it lugs and shifts back into 1st, but you get the idea.
My car will shift into 3rd at around 15 MPH if I'm just barely touching the throttle.
I never shift into OD unless I'm going over 50 MPH. The trans will shift into OD in ANY gear and along with the torque converter lockup at 40 MPH (which also happens in any gear) will cause the trans to shift and bog and jump around from gear to gear. If I drop below 50 MPH I shift from OD into Drive.
My '86 will shift into 2nd if I just let it idle in 1st. Not sure exactly what speed that is, but it's around 5 MPH. Then it lugs and shifts back into 1st, but you get the idea.
My car will shift into 3rd at around 15 MPH if I'm just barely touching the throttle.
I never shift into OD unless I'm going over 50 MPH. The trans will shift into OD in ANY gear and along with the torque converter lockup at 40 MPH (which also happens in any gear) will cause the trans to shift and bog and jump around from gear to gear. If I drop below 50 MPH I shift from OD into Drive.