200R4 switch controlled torque converter lockup

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79 USA 1

Royal Smart Person
Sep 2, 2011
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Cheektowaga, New York
When I had the issue with the SS it would shift 1-2 normally then lock the converter and you would get the 3 & 4th gear shift almost immediately. Car would just lug along and was quite a dog. (Not that it is a speed demon by any stretch of ones imagination!)

One question I do have to ask.......Are you still running the ECM on the El Camino or did you do away with all the computer control when you swapped intakes?
 

melloelky

Comic Book Super Hero
Oct 22, 2017
4,135
9,484
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mass
Where'd you put the switch in? Where can I find the wire?
the brake light switch has four posts on it,two activate the workings of the lights and the other two make and break the lock up circuit.i took the two that run the lock up and wired them to a small toggle switch by the door handle.
0723192013.jpg
 
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LukeZ

G-Body Guru
Apr 24, 2015
537
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Delaware
The switch is in the pan and the connector is on the driver side of trans just behind the shifter rod. Factory would be a 4 wire connector without 4 wires in it. And you shouldn't be in 4th gear at 30 mph unless you have 4.10 gears with 25" tires.
Thanks, I'll look for it!
 

LukeZ

G-Body Guru
Apr 24, 2015
537
323
63
Delaware
When I had the issue with the SS it would shift 1-2 normally then lock the converter and you would get the 3 & 4th gear shift almost immediately. Car would just lug along and was quite a dog. (Not that it is a speed demon by any stretch of ones imagination!)

One question I do have to ask.......Are you still running the ECM on the El Camino or did you do away with all the computer control when you swapped intakes?
Nope, still have the ECM!
 

LukeZ

G-Body Guru
Apr 24, 2015
537
323
63
Delaware
the brake light switch has four posts on it,two activate the workings of the lights and the other two make and break the lock up circuit.i took the two that run the lock up and wired them to a small toggle switch by the door handle. View attachment 119059
Brake light switch? Where's that?
 

vandyman

Apprentice
Jul 16, 2017
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ssn696

Living in the Past
Supporting Member
Jul 19, 2009
5,543
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Permanent Temporary
Brake light switch? Where's that?
I have a link to a thread on my user page. There is a diagram in there. I once used a high beam switch on the floorboard from a Chevy pickup to lock and unlock the TC.
 

shanghaismith

Greasemonkey
Mar 5, 2010
230
32
28
Macon, GA
Probably ought to fix what's wrong with it. You shouldn't be in 4th gear at 28 mph.

I'll guess governor springs laying in the pan, but only a guess. How does it shift for the other gears during a normal acceleration when left in drive?
Also, is the cable for the throttle valve adjusted properly? If not it could cause the trans to shift to soon.
 
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shanghaismith

Greasemonkey
Mar 5, 2010
230
32
28
Macon, GA
Hey all,
Long story short, my car just about stalls out in 4th gear when the torque converter locks up because it goes into 4th gear so early. I've been having to leave the car in 3rd and then manually shift into 4th after the car is going fast enough to where it runs right. I don't want to continue doing this though because it's an automatic, not a manual haha. I also don't have the facilities to adjust the shift points. I'd rather be able to initiate the lock up after a certain speed.

From a cold start the car runs in 4th fine, it's just after it warms up and the torque converter locks up in 4th at 28mph that it chugs and shakes and rattles because it's at about 100 rpm lmao
[/QUOTE]
Probably ought to fix what's wrong with it. You shouldn't be in 4th gear at 28 mph.

I'll guess governor springs laying in the pan, but only a guess. How does it shift for the other gears during a normal acceleration when left in drive?
Have you checked the throttle valve cable adjustment? It may be shifting to soon.
 

Hi-Fi

Apprentice
Oct 14, 2016
70
20
8
All the gears shift fine, and it's fine when it's in 4th at 30mph - drives good. It's just 4th with the lockup that's bad
What gears are in your car? I have 3.70 gears and I don't go into 4th until around 45mph on my 2004r.

Can you feel the shifts? Could be a TV cable adjustment issue.
 
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