Replace TV cable on 86? Or worse...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 189
Likes: 36
From: Austin, TX
Replace TV cable on 86? Or worse...
I have adjusted the TV cable on my 86 with 42k miles on it several times, I have the service manuals so I am pretty sure I'm doing it right. It's not that hard. I have had the trans fluid and filter changed as well. I have had it adjusted where it shifts late at high rpm, and where it felt normal, albeit with shifts a bit earlier than I would like. Even had a good Vette mechanic go over it while he was doing a few other things.
Fast forward to Sunday, I was heading to a car show and started to smell that burning clutch/brake smell. By the time I finished my 10 mile drive, the trans was making a whining noise in Park and in Drive as well. I KNOW: Low trans pressures=f'ed up tranny. Drove her home after the show with OD locked out except on the freeway. No smell, and the noise almost went away.
Reading the Service Manual, it looks like the TV cable may not be working at the point where it connects to the trans. It looks adjusted up at the throttle connection. Should I just get a new NOS one off eBay for $38 and try it? Looks easy to install, is it?
Or...does anyone know a good trans shop in the north Atlanta metro area?
Fast forward to Sunday, I was heading to a car show and started to smell that burning clutch/brake smell. By the time I finished my 10 mile drive, the trans was making a whining noise in Park and in Drive as well. I KNOW: Low trans pressures=f'ed up tranny. Drove her home after the show with OD locked out except on the freeway. No smell, and the noise almost went away.
Reading the Service Manual, it looks like the TV cable may not be working at the point where it connects to the trans. It looks adjusted up at the throttle connection. Should I just get a new NOS one off eBay for $38 and try it? Looks easy to install, is it?
Or...does anyone know a good trans shop in the north Atlanta metro area?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,082
Likes: 3
From: Conowingo Maryland
there is only one adjustment to the cable. if you are or have adjusted it to get different shifting results chances are you have fried the trans. The Tv cable adjusts the line pressure at the correct point a wrong adjustment reduces line pressure and starts frieing things fast
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 849
Likes: 1
From: dubuque iowa
going to have to agree here i'm afraid because smelling the transmission is pretty extream burnage 
TV cable is not a adjust to how you like the feel kinda thing.
its an adjust the way your supposed to, there is a reason people buy shift kits.
the feel your wanting shoulda been gotten by governor modifications are shift kit not the TV cable.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
On my car the exhaust pipe is in the way. I don't know if it's possible to get to the bolt that holds the cable to the trans with the exhaust pipe there. i looked at it once and couldn't see a way to do it.
The shop manual tells you to run the cable around the outside of the trans dipstick tube. I don't think you really need to do this. I think it was just to keep the TV cable out of the way when the engines were installed at the factory. I've run mine both ways and it didn't make a difference.
It should be tight ALL the time. That's the prime way to tell it's not adjusted correctly. If there's ANY slack then it's wrong. This is what mine looks like with the throttle closed:
The shop manual tells you to run the cable around the outside of the trans dipstick tube. I don't think you really need to do this. I think it was just to keep the TV cable out of the way when the engines were installed at the factory. I've run mine both ways and it didn't make a difference.
Last edited by Cliff Harris; Aug 7, 2013 at 04:11 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 189
Likes: 36
From: Austin, TX
Thanks, Cliff. That is what mine looks like. I know that the OD is controlled electronically, is there a separate repair that I can do to adjust the speed that the OD kicks in at? It shifts into 4th around 40mph, which is obviously too low. The rest of the shifts feel normal, if I put my foot in it, it downshifts, and it holds the shifts longer with more throttle, like it should. I think the OD is the problem.
And I should have said that I have had the cable MIS-adjusted so that it caused hard late shifts. I am not trying to create this condition, and not looking for a shift kit. Nice and stock is fine.
And I should have said that I have had the cable MIS-adjusted so that it caused hard late shifts. I am not trying to create this condition, and not looking for a shift kit. Nice and stock is fine.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
I know that the OD is controlled electronically, is there a separate repair that I can do to adjust the speed that the OD kicks in at? It shifts into 4th around 40mph, which is obviously too low. The rest of the shifts feel normal, if I put my foot in it, it downshifts, and it holds the shifts longer with more throttle, like it should. I think the OD is the problem.
There is a pressure switch inside the transmission that tells the ECM that the transmission is in OD. The ECM has a MPH parameter programmed into it that does two things: one is turn on the TCC (Torque Converter Clutch). The other is to turn on the SHIFT lamp if you exceed that MPH in Drive for more than a certain length of time that I don't remember offhand. That parameter is set to 40 MPH. The shift into OD that you feel is most likely the TCC locking. Mine will lock in 1, 2 or D at 40 MPH (I tested it).
The shift points are affected by the TV cable because it changes the pressures in the trans. The governor also affects shift points. Tweaking the governor is not for the faint of heart. It's pretty complex, involving weights and springs and modifying them.
In my case the transmission cooler is the stock one in the radiator, which is above the transmission. When the engine is shut off the trans fluid drains back into the transmission. When I took my governor cover off about a quart of trans fluid came out.
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