114 Trans downshift question

[Catrinus]

The 4-speed auto trans in my 73 280C works real nice, except for one baffling thing. When I slow down from speed or go up a hill, it does not downshift automatically. I can down shift it manually just fine but I'm curious what would cause this fault and if it's even worth fixing since the manual shift method seems to work.

Thanks in advance for the great advice I'll get!
Catrinus
Portland, OR

[psfred]

Nice car!

The 4-Speed will only downsift when you floor it, by and large, it's not very sensitive to throttle position once it has shifted up. This can be a pain, when you want a bit more poop and are already in 4th -- you have to either floor it to get it to kick down (not always a good idea) or manually shift down.

It won't downshfit slowing down at all, until you get to 25 mph or so.

Don't be afraid to use the lever, it won't hurt anything. Should also make it start off in 1st gear by putting it in "2" at stoplights, I think the gas engines start in 2nd usually.

The diesel sits in 2nd, downshifts instantly when you move the pedal, but I think some of the gas engines stay in 2nd unless you floor it.

Peter

I have the same problem in my 250. But I've heard from a few people that it's just how it was designed. I have since learned to downshift using the gear shift and it works great

[Catrinus]

Thanks to both of you for the info! I guess that's just the way it was designed, then. I'm just glad to know I'm not going to kill it by downshifting manually (like I killed the stupid tranny in my '89 Plymouth Voyager by leaving it in 2nd on a very long downhill [10+ miles coming down Mt St Helen's]).

By the way, thanks for the comment about the car, Peter. I bought it for $700 about 18 months ago and have put maybe $1000 into it (mostly tires, shocks, rear brakes and master cylinder, one small carb part). I've always liked the 108s better but this one was too cheap to pass up. The body is great (except for the surface rust on the hood and trunk that comes from sitting for 5+ years under a tree in Oregon), the interior (avacado rosette!) is just about perfect and I haven't really had to touch the engine. In fact, I'm discovering that the more I drive it (it's my daily driver), the better the engine is getting. I'm constantly amazed at the quality that's built into this car and how tight everthing still is after 30 years -- there is not a squeak anywhere in it. I'm still looking for that perfect 108 6 cyl 4 door, though.

Catrinus