Weird shifting

[jonnyslick]

So in my '85 Cutty with the 307 and autotragic on the column .. when it shifts it seems like it skips second. Almost like it goes from first to third and when it does so, the car runs really rough.

Often when driving, especially in town, the car seems like is shifts into a higher gear when it doesn't need to. I have to "mash" on the gas to get it to shift back down b/c otherwise it bogs like when you have a manual in too high a gear.

Any of you have a similar problem?

 

[jonnyslick]

Any idea? Maybe this thread should be moved to a tech section?

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

It sounds like either an internal issue, or a improperly adjusted TV cable.

 

[jonnyslick]

TV cable? Not familiar with that term.

So ... think I should look for a replacement trans?

 

[HFX]

TV cable? Not familiar with that term.

So ... think I should look for a replacement trans?

A cable which connects to the throttle linkage and goes down to the transmission to control the shift valves. It is what makes the transmission kickdown and raises shift points when you are on the throttle. If you are using the carbed 5.0 engines, it will be on the driver side of the carb. You'll see the linkage for the gas pedal on top, and then on the bottom of that arm you'll see another linkage. That is the TV cable.

If there is no internal damage, if the cable is too loose, it will cause the transmission to shift too early and lead to the problem you describe. This is very bad and can result in ruining the transmission. You should be able to find an article on adjusting it on here (You push in a really stiff tab and adjust it tighter or looser).

 

[jonnyslick]

Ok thanks for the heads up ... will this website help me in the right direction:

http://www.tvmadeez.com

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

If your car is stock, that site has the right procedure. Just bottom the cable sheath, and push the throttle to WOT, and it will go to the right spot. That is what I have always used. If used with a carburetor designed to run a TV cable it works fine. The problem arises when using a aftermarket carb from Holley, Edelbrock, etc. which does not have the correct geometry in any of it's bellcrank holes. If you have a 1976-1988 Quadrajet, it will work the way it is supposed to. If you have almost any other non-GM carb it will not and requires an adapter piece that bolts to the bell crank.

 

[jonnyslick]

yeah my car is all stock ...

 

[pontiacgp]

when was the last time you changed the transmission fluid and do you have a 200 r4 transmission?

 

[jonnyslick]

I have no idea what transmission is in the car. I just got the car within the last month and it's basically been sitting while I wait to get the title back from the state (my grandmother lost the original). So as soon as that is taken care of it's going for full fluid change.

How do I know what transmission it has?