Hi All- Sorry for the delay in the updates. Fact is I still haven't got to the C200 TCC Solenoid swap yet as I needed to collect tools and parts still. Still getting myself prepped.
But to confirm for others, reason I have this as suspect is that the Torque Converter shifts too quick after it has been used only once during that drive (with trans oil hot). Car shifts totally fine though.
For real world example -
- I take the car out and do some city driving. Gears all shift as they should.
- I come up to a stop, car does not stall. Start off again and 1st, to second, then third, all strong shifts.
- Slow up, goes back to second, back to first and so on.
- Drive up hills, gears are held longer as to be expected. Downhill - they come quicker
- Give heavy throttle, gears hold as they should (which in my mind eliminates the TV cable as a problem).
- Then, take the car out on the highway. Get it up to about 50Mph (or 80KM/hr) and the TC will lock in as expected (like an overdrive). The TC will hold gear, work as expected and I could drive it anywhere.
- BUT!!! as soon as I come off the highway, come to a stop, (or worse have to go back to what would be 3rd gear 35MPH (50KM or 60KM) driving, the TC stays engaged
- If I come to a stop the car still does not stall, I can even hear the second and 1st gears engage as I slow up to a red light, and car idles great
- Start of again, 1st, then 2nd come as pretty much expected, BUT once at about 25Mph (40km) when Second gear is getting to about its mid range, I get sudden shift to 3rd
- And if that were not bad enough, As soon as 3rd is found, the TC locks up almost at the same time. (basically - trans goes for over drive when not needed)
- If I manually select 2nd gear at this time it will hold that gear. And so I could (theoretically) manual shift from 2nd to "D" once the car would work OK - But that's not ideal and could cause wear on a good gear box.
And so looking at the manual I posted a while back on the tear down off the 200C, I see my issue listed on Page 17 as "
Converter clutch applies immediately after 2nd to 3rd shift regardless of vehicle speed.". And this sounds exactly what I have. The manual only provides the 1 cause for this. The Solenoid. Its either the ground cable on it is pinched or it is mechanically compromised (buggered LOL) and can't exhaust oil.
And now not to be outdone, I did try and find ANY external ground connectors that might have become corroded as it may not have been the ground in the trans but perhaps a ground outside it. I did find 2large bolts that attach grounds into the block on the drivers side. They are at the rear below the valve covers, and not too far from the bell housing so I did try cleaning both of them at all both ends and reattaching. It made no difference.
Also to be noted - I do not have any Speed sensors (its a cable) and just the one green power wire going to transmission.
The model type of my trans is an "HHB" version of the 200C and this is in a 1986 Cutlass Supreme sedan with a 231, and is RWD.
So, as I get preped - I now have a trans jack, I have the pan gasket and filter, The new Solenoid. As
Wageslave mentioned, the manual does show the TCC Solenoid is on the back of the F%$%in oil pump and it seems I may need a puller to get that out. (see page 55 of the manual which points it out. I am hoping the gaskets at the rear of the pump salvageable as I don't want to buy a $300 rebuild kit just to get them
And I am also lucky - I have a good second 200C in an 83 Olds Cutty sedan, (same drive train), that I can drop and transfer if I end up needing to get the first one rebuilt.
And so last thing I need is the blasted TIME to make all this happen. I will certainly post pictures of the process. And I highly recommend those having 200C problems to go get that manual in my previous post. There are all sorts of troubleshooting items in there for other problems than mine.
Cheers!
