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'89 Auto trans 2nd ---> 3rd shift question

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Old Nov 3, 2003 | 05:22 PM
  #1  
Cap'n Rich's Avatar
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Default '89 Auto trans 2nd ---> 3rd shift question

Either the transmission in my 89 is misadjusted or the shift pattern design sucks.

One of the bad things it does is during the 2nd to 3rd shift. If I pull onto the freeway, for example, it will shift from 1st to 2nd as I'm accelerating. Once it's in 2nd, though, it will stay there until I back off on the accelerator. As long as I hold the foot feed down at all, it won't shift.

Is this normal????? :confused:

Rich
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Old Nov 3, 2003 | 05:42 PM
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Default Re: '89 Auto trans 2nd ---> 3rd shift question (Cap'n Rich)

Nope. Sounds like it is slipping in gear if you WOT.
Same thing happens to me in 3rd shifting to 4th (OD), or
when I manually shift the car 1-2-3, she slips like man to 3rd.
I have to lift off the gas to get it to go to 3rd, or put it into 'D' and
let it shift at lower rpms = lower line pressures.
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Old Nov 3, 2003 | 06:54 PM
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Default Re: '89 Auto trans 2nd ---> 3rd shift question (MrNuke)

Mr. N......

She's not slipping at all - second is good and solid and the tach goes up as it should incrementally with the speed. This happens even at the slightest positive throttle, not just at WOT. If I floor it, it will redline and never shift until I back it off. (Tried that once, won't do it again. Hate to hear it scream in pain :nonod: )

Rich
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Old Nov 3, 2003 | 09:20 PM
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Default Re: '89 Auto trans 2nd ---> 3rd shift question (Cap'n Rich)

Mr. N......

She's not slipping at all - second is good and solid and the tach goes up as it should incrementally with the speed. This happens even at the slightest positive throttle, not just at WOT. If I floor it, it will redline and never shift until I back it off. (Tried that once, won't do it again. Hate to hear it scream in pain :nonod: )

Rich
Hmm then you are worse off than I thought. If a tranny stays in gear and just revs up and doens't upshift, and the TV (kickdown)cable is adjusted normally, then that's called a Slipping tranny.

I'd say check the TV cable adjustment, check your transmission fluid, see if it smells lburned at all, or i fyou are low, and if those check out, have it looked at by a shop or a transmission specialist. NOT AAMCO.



[Modified by MrNuke, 9:22 PM 11/3/2003]
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Old Nov 3, 2003 | 09:37 PM
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Default Re: '89 Auto trans 2nd ---> 3rd shift question (MrNuke)

Mebbe I'm not being clear. The transmission is not slipping. It is solidly in second gear. If I increase the pressure on the accelerator, the cars speeds up as it should in synch with the engine speed. It is not slipping. It simply does not shift until I back off on the accelerator.

Every other automatic transmission I have driven will eventually shift into the next gear without having to do this. (I have owned over 70 cars).

I guess what I'm asking is, is this transmission designed to do this? I'm not talking about foot-to-the-floor acceleration - just normal street driving. If you have a similar slushbox, do you have to back off a bit to get it to shift into 3rd gear, on the level, with the selector in OD?

Rich
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Old Nov 3, 2003 | 09:43 PM
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Default Re: '89 Auto trans 2nd ---> 3rd shift question (MrNuke)

Mr. Nuke is right on. I had a similar problem with my 700R4 a couple of years ago. At first it would not do the 2 to 3 shift without letting up on the throttle. Finally it would not shift at all. Fluid smell burned. Turned out the tranny was slipping (clutch packs). I had to have the tranny rebuilt.

Hope yours is the TV cable adjustment.
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Old Nov 3, 2003 | 09:52 PM
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Default Re: '89 Auto trans 2nd ---> 3rd shift question (Mike263)

Mike.........

So, if I understand you correctly, the transmission should sift from 2nd to 3rd without easing the pressure on the accelerator.

Also, this shift can be affected by the adjustment of the TV cable. Am I reading you right?

BTW, the fluid is clear and clean with no odor and is at the correct level. The car has 40K+ miles.

Thanks,
Rich
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Old Nov 3, 2003 | 10:01 PM
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Default Re: '89 Auto trans 2nd ---> 3rd shift question (Cap'n Rich)

No. That is not normal. It should shift just like the 69, other cars you have owned. It may be able to be corrected by a TV cable adjustment, but if so, how did the cable get out of adjustment. Shifting is regulated by the relationship between the throttle pressure (TV cable) and the governer pressure. If something is blocking a hydraulic passage, this could be the result. I would have a trusted pro check this out before it becomes a REAL problem. MY experience with 700R4's is that once they start to go, there's no saving them. Since yours isn't slipping (yet) there may be hope. Good luck, and...

RACE ON!!!
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Old Nov 3, 2003 | 10:04 PM
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Default Re: '89 Auto trans 2nd ---> 3rd shift question (Cap'n Rich)

Your transmission should go from 1-2-3-4(OD) at Full throttle, without missing a beat.

There is atech article on hwo to adjust the TV cable properly on our cars on this forum somewhere. Im sure you can search for it and find tons of info though. Funny thing is, my fluid does not smell burnt either right now, but my car slips into 3rd if I manually shift from 2-3, and doesn't upshift to 4th (OD) anymore at WOT no matter what. I'm trying to delay the inevitable of a new transmission, but dunno how logn I can do that.
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Old Nov 3, 2003 | 10:22 PM
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Default Re: '89 Auto trans 2nd ---> 3rd shift question (MrNuke)

Okay - thanks to you guys, I know where to start looking. I'll search up the TV cable adjustment and go from there. It may well be that, because the tranny does some other funny things that are a bit harder to isolate and describe. For example, sometimes when I am in 3rd (I think) and slightly increase pressure on the throttle, it will upshift through fourth to OD. Just the opposite of what I need at the time.

It will also refuse to downshift from OD to fourth until I really increase the throttle and then will downshift through fourth to third - again inappropriate for the situation.

All these weird shifts make me think something is out of adjustment. It doesn't seem logical that Chevrolet would design a transmission to act like this. I haven't owned a Chev for many years, so I had to ask if this is normal behavior.

Thanks again, fellows.

Rich
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Old Nov 3, 2003 | 10:38 PM
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Default Re: '89 Auto trans 2nd ---> 3rd shift question (Cap'n Rich)

It will also refuse to downshift from OD to fourth until I really increase the throttle and then will downshift through fourth to third - again inappropriate for the situation.
Rich
Fourth IS the OD gear. I think you may be confusing the torque lockup for an additional "gear". This is not an uncommon mistake. Some years and models allow for tc lock up in both third (direct) and fourth (overdrive) gears. The rpms drop upon lock up and it is often perceived as a "shift" (transmission ratio change). It isn't of course. That is how you can feel 4 or 5 shifts in your 4 speed transmission, which really only has 3. Good luck, and...

RACE ON!!!
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Old Nov 3, 2003 | 10:55 PM
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Default Re: '89 Auto trans 2nd ---> 3rd shift question (CFI-EFI)

I know what you mean, and I do sometimes get a little fuzzy on just what is happening. My torque lockup/unlock occurs about 43/40 mph if I remember correctly.

What I meant to describe is what occurs when I'm going up a rise on the highway at say, 55. As I increase throttle to maintain speed, it doesn't downshift right away. As the hill steepens a bit, I have to increase pressure on the gas and the engine seems to be "lugging". It is definitely not responding as it should. As I further increase pedal pressure, well past the point where it should have downshifted, it will all of a sudden downshift two gears. Either that, or it has downshifted one gear and also the converter has unlocked. RPM will increase from 1100 to 3000 or so and the car leaps ahead before I can back off a bit. When I do, it shifts back into OD and we start the process all over again.

Normally I would expect the trans to respond to the call for power by sensing the optimum time to downshift - not wait until the throttle is 3/4 of the way the the floor and then slam into "RACE" mode. :lol:

It may be all adjustment.

Rich


[Modified by Cap'n Rich, 8:25 PM 11/3/2003]
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