howdy folks,

ok this one has me going. .. recent purchase of a 79 300td (NA) wagon. worked ok, a little high on the shifts accassionally but not bad and given that the condition of the vacuum pump is "rather tired" i wasn't worried about it. 275k miles so well within normal lifespan too. ran kinda cold and had a little tiny water leak. found the radiator cap seals were worn out so it got replaced, leak and low temp running condition solved so i was pretty happy. went from an average fluctuating temp of 140-160 to a solid and steady 170 on the gauge. did a bunch of running around, parts pick up and delivery etc. stopped at my shop at the end of the day and picked up about 400 lbs of custom built dana 44 for my jeep project and was on my way home when !?!?!?! a funny noise, road speed related, rather like a playing card hitting bicycle spokes. so naturally i stopped and looked for something i must have run over, found nothing. started forward again and got to about 10 mph and the sound came back... pulled over again but now it didn't want to go into park(what the heck?). looked at every rotating part (wheels, checked for a loosened brake caliper, driveshaft etc) and at the shift linkages and found nothing abbynormal so i started back to the shop. no more noise but now it won't shift past 2nd gear. shifter mechanism is working correctly since the one occurrence of failing to go into park. fluid level is now high( maybe a pint or so?) since it seems that it was never getting warm enough to properly heat the transmission before due to heat loss in the exchanger. if i use the foot kickdown it will go into 1st but runs it up high in the rpms before a shift. 40 mph in 2nd and lifting the throttle doesn't bring a 2-3 shift either so....... whaddya think, a failed clutch pack? thats the only thing i can think of that would make the noises but it doesn't go into freewind, it just won't shift past second so i'm confused.

And see if it has a "KickDown" switch
If so ,Unplug it and report back.

The other option we won't go into quite yet.

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'84 300SD sold
124.128

to quote myself; " if i use the foot kickdown it will go into 1st but runs it up high in the rpms before a shift." so i ruled out the kickdown switch. what i did however fail to mention that is when i use the kickdown to go into first i then back off the throttle to the top of the switch travel again, old habit. other than making a downshift request using the kickdown switch it will start out in second like i expect. i'd suspect a bad band but then it would go into freewind on trying to shift to 3rd wouldn't it?

Partly copied from a manual:
Will not upsift:
Incorrect governor pressure. Defective governor assembly.
Check for stuck kickdown Solenoid (added by me: not the switch under the pedal the Solenoid on the trans) or to sticking kickdown switch.
Valve Body dirty of valves sticking.

Upshifts at higher speedsn than specified:
Check the pressure control engagement cable (Bowen Cable), condition and adjustment. Check for a stuck kickdown solenoid or for cohstant voltage to the solenoid caused by a defective Fuel Pump Relay (gasser?) or sticking kickdown switch. Check governor pressure. If regulator pressure is too low replace the centrifugal governot. Ensure control pressure regulating valves operable.

I am thinking that incorrect pressure could be caused by a restricted filter.

The actual Kick Down Valve in the Trans could be stuck.

I have never read what might happen if the Bown Cable broke or some how failed.

If messing with the above did not help I think I would be putting a gauge on the Trans and measure the pressure.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

well what a bummer. throttle shift control ie no vacuum modulator and 1979 so no bowden cable. uses a crossrod connected to the throttle linkage to operate a lever on the right side of the trans, i'll call it a "throttle valve" for ease of identification. electric shift solenoid functions too. will upshift to second from first at high rpm only and only by closing the "throttle valve", its apparently a fixed reference and a throttle position controlled hydraulic pressure bleed from what i understand. only one thing left and thats the governor........ looks like i need to r&r the filter, remove what chunks i can find inside the case and replace the drive gear on the governor, apparently this is not an unheard of problem. only problem is the local supplier doesn't show a listing for the gear and quotes a used known good governor at $150. anyone got a source for this plastic gear?

They are Deutschlanders,will be happy to help you.
'Give them a Call!
Toll Free: 1-800-372-TRANS (8726)
Phone:
650-348-3990
Fax:
650-348-3019
Email:
mzfinc@pacbell.net

1331 Rollins Road
Burlingame, CA 94010

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__________________
'84 300SD sold
124.128