Intermittent problem with 2-3 shift?

[neat]

The 87 T-Type in my signature has an intermittent problem shifting from second to third in that the 2-3 shift sometimes doesn't happen. It will just wind out second gear forever. Sometimes it does it at the track when at WOT, other times it will do it just cruising around. Just yesterday I was driving down main street at 45-50 MPH and it was just cruising in second. After about 2 miles of messing with the gas pedal, it finally shifted. When it does it, usually if I play with the accelerator I can get it to shift. Letting off when at WOT, punching it if it is doing it during around town driving, etc...

Any idea how to diagnose what it is?

 

[Mad_Trbo]

I wonder if your transmission is as intermittent as the help in this particular section.

Based on my research there are three variables things that might effect your shift quality.

#1 The governor, within the governor there are a series of springs which along with a primary and secondary weight create timing for shifts based on centrifugal force. Perhaps a spring has come loose, were you working on the tranny at all??

#2 The T.V. cable along with the attached TV plunger and valve create a hydraulic signal that tells the tranny when to shift based on the accelorators angle. Meaning part throttle to WOT will change the timing of the shift points. Have you recently made any changes to your TV cable? If not, when was the last time you serviced your transmission. Upon last service did you find any trash in your fluid? Wonder if there could be trash in any of your valve assemblies which might cause the plunger or valve to hang up?

#3 escapes me at the moment.


I am no expert but these are definitely areas you want to consider as you do your research. Good luck - folks are good at posting questions but are only 30 - 40% as good at posting the solutions once found.

 

[77 cruiser]

Could be the TV hanging slightly or the 2-3 shift valve hanging up due to debris as Mad said.

 

[neat]

The car sat for 5 years up until I got my paws on it a couple months ago. Before I fired it, I drained the transmission and replaced the filter. The fluid looked pretty good, there was some grey sludge (worn metal/clutch disks I assume?) in the bottom of the pan, but it wasn't excessive.

I have not adjusted the TV cable, nor messed with anything in the area. I will adjust the TV cable as per the online instructions and go frm there.

I don't know where the governor is on the transmission, so it's possible I whacked it when I was doing the filter change. Where is it?

 

[Mad_Trbo]

Valve body cleaning

The car sat for 5 years up until I got my paws on it a couple months ago. Before I fired it, I drained the transmission and replaced the filter. The fluid looked pretty good, there was some grey sludge (worn metal/clutch disks I assume?) in the bottom of the pan, but it wasn't excessive.

I have not adjusted the TV cable, nor messed with anything in the area. I will adjust the TV cable as per the online instructions and go frm there.

I don't know where the governor is on the transmission, so it's possible I whacked it when I was doing the filter change. Where is it?

If my mental orientation is right, and the transmission is still in the car. It would be on the drivers side of the transmission close to where your speedometer cable plugs in. It is protected with a casing that has either three or four bolts. Chances are nill that you effected this with a simple filter change.

Sounds like one of the areas I previously mentioned could have gummed up after that period of time. It may pay to pull the valve body and clean it thoroughly and make sure all components are actuating smoothly and returning to there original positions under the power of the springs.

Just a suggestion which will allow you to become familiar with the physical operations of the valve body. I could possibly fax you the sheet which describes the locations of the various valve body components as well as there intended purpose.

 

[OneLethal87GN]

If you take the pan off the tranny and look to the rear of the tranny, just before the tail, you'll see a cover being held by 4 bolts. Take that cover off and you can pull the governor out from behind it. It is very unlikely you affected it by changing the filter or fluid like Mad said. My car sat for 9 months while the engine was getting rebuilt and soon after getting the car back on the road the tranny started failing. It quickly went downhill. I never changed the fluid because the guy who installed the engine said he checked it and the fluid still looked fine. He installed a new front seal and that's how he came upon checking it. I'm not sure if it was the sitting in a field for 9 months or the new power from the rebuilt engine and bigger turbo that killed the tranny though.

 

[neat]

I still haven't had a chance to get out to the car and do anything. I'll report back after I adjust the TV cable. Maybe I'll pull the pan again and look into cleaning some things inside. I'll wait and see what the TV cable adjustment does for me first though.

Thanks guys!