87 300TD Transmission Solutions
 

I am reading through toddyvol's thread and it sparked some research on my part to write down some figures on what my transmission is doing -- since it is doing something different than toddyvol's and I don't want to hijack his thread I figured I'd start my own.

Some history you should know is that when I first bought the car you guys at this forum graciously walked me through the MityVac processes of testing and found that my VCV was bad, I bought a new one and replaced it. The shifting was so much better I couldn't complain.

Now ever since I have had the car it has been doing something else interesting:

• @ 5MPH it shifts to 2nd
• @ 25MPH it shifts into 3rd
• @ 30MPH it shifts into 4th

Now... I could have the slightest pressure on the go pedal or floor it and it STILL performs the above. Basically 3rd gear is useless unless I manually put the stick in 3.

The car shifts down through those gears well (minus the K2-spring upgrade I should probably invest in) but going from 4th to 3rd does clunk.

I just recently had the trans flushed but it does have a small leak so I am constantly checking to make sure the right amount of fluid is in it (I can usually tell just but how it shifts when it's a little low).

Anyway I wanted to share my experiences with you guys, I think people were saying to check the kick down cable or whatever it's called but I haven't located it yet nor attempted to adjust it and I am not 100% sure that is really my problem at this point.

What do you guys think?

Thanks,

Frank

Instant Update: I found an older forum thread where you guys helped me to a point I was never able to test, which was that it may be a faulty bowden cable.

Sounds like a loose or broken Bowden cable. Just under the washer-fluid bottle it ends, be sure that it moves in/out smoothly and is not slack at idle. If all else is fine, try tightening the adjustment a turn or two.

@Jeff - turning the adjustment is only going to make it shift at different points right? If I am thinking about this right, and the Bowden is broken then even if a few turns it would maybe at max change all those shift points to maybe be higher but not dynamically change via how much pedal is being pushed?

Yes, the bowden cable slack makes it shift very early, too tight is shifting late / higher RPM, should shift at higher RPMs the further the throttle pedal is pressed = pulling the Bowden cable up. Possibly it has come off of the retainer at the top / engine?

I am going to investigate this weekend, love how the cable ranges from $25-$100 new lol.

Thanks Jeff!