Tranny Question. Started Acting Up.
 

Hey guys,

This morning, I went to leave work, and so I started my car, backed up and put it into drive. when I go to an intersection, I accelerated, and my car shifted into second at like 20, and then into 3rd at like 30 and 4th at like 35. It is shifting really soft and fast. I pulled over and looked at the fluid and its not burned or anything. the cars just shifting really early and really fast. Weird thing is that when I put the shifter into 1 itll stay in 1 then go into 2nd, and in second itll go into third and d itll go into 4th, so I mean when I use the shifter and do it manually it pretty much works. Only reason I am worried is because even when I nail the throttle itll still shift into second at like 2300 rpms. Any ideas as to what may be going on?



Any help will be appreciated.

andy

What is your car? Might create a signature with the car/cars you have and then people will always know.

Try adjusting the bowden cable. There is a nut on top of the valve cover that is attached to a cable the drops down to the transmission. Turn the nut CCW when you are standing on the passenger's side and it should delay the shifts. This all assumes you have a bowden cable to adjust though.

Ditto Andrew's advice on your Signature...
 

Also get under your car and take a look at the shifter linkage rod... the one that goes between the bottom-most lever of the shifter up to the lever that attaches to the side of the transmission. Pay particular attention to the plastic bushings on each end of this linkage rod and the adjustment lock-nut at one end of the rod. This could be a case of a failed bushing that has completely fallen out!
Get back to us on the results of this inspection.
Regards,

Im basically having the exact same problem with my tranny now too. all of a sudden it started shifting at 15/25/35. i didnt think i had a bowden cable on my 80 300d. guess ill have to give it a look over. lets us know what you find as well.

vacum problem or bowden cable

Sudden change like that tells me it is probably a vacuum problem. Check your vacuum with a Mity Vac and look for a disconnected line.

If the setup on the 300D is the same as my 80 300SD then I would first check the bowden cable (actually it is a rod on my car not a cable) and see if the rod is missing the bushing where it attaches to the lever on the passenger side of the transmission housing (toward the front of the transmission). My bushing was completely gone and the lever was not operating properly. It was causing the transmission to start off in 2nd gear and shift very early from 3rd to 4th. If all is tight and intact then move on to the vacuum part of the system.

I have a cable setup, and with the adjuster backed all the way out there is still like an inch of side to side play int he cable. Could this be it?