1987-1991 Parley with regards to your 1987 to 1991 Bonneville, Olds 88 or Buick Le Sabre Please use General Chat for non-mechanical issues, and Performance and Brainstorming for improvements.

slow 1st gear engagement

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-08-2004, 07:30 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Thread Starter
 
opensourceguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Three Oaks, Michigan
Posts: 4,879
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
opensourceguy is on a distinguished road
Default slow 1st gear engagement

Driving around town.. my tach was jumping around [thanks rain], and so my transmission was really acting up, so I started manually shifting her. Well.. I was going from D to 2, nice quick shift [less than a second], then, when I got into the business district of town, I went into 1, and the car started slowing down.. and it took 2-3 seconds to engage. I tried this shift again, and it was the same thing. It isn't the clutches slipping.. the car REALLY pulled and reacted to shifts really good. My fluid isn't all that good.. but it doesn't have a burnt smell, and isn't black, but pink.. with a small trace of brown. Is my tranny ok?

On the tranny subject.. the lines that go to the cooler, leak a small amount of fluid when first started up, but not after that. I inspected the lines, and they don't look all that good. Can I go to AZ and get a direct replacement? Would it maybe be a little better idea to just put on my own lines, and mount up a new cooler instead, and just plugging off the radiator cooler [for the tranny ].

-justin
Old 10-08-2004, 08:22 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
True Car Nut
 
LakevilleSSEi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Farmington, Minnesota =MWBF '05 SURVIVOR= =CEBF '06 SURVIVOR= =August '06 COTM=
Posts: 9,130
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
LakevilleSSEi is on a distinguished road
Default

What speed are you pulling it into first gear at? There is a governor on most cars to prevent over reving. Any external cooler that you can put on outside of the radiator is better than in the radiator...Less heat. HEAT+TRANS= BAD NEWS
Old 10-08-2004, 09:09 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Thread Starter
 
opensourceguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Three Oaks, Michigan
Posts: 4,879
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
opensourceguy is on a distinguished road
Default

Going about 25, and no, it wasn't kicking in with a governer, because my speed decreased like 2mph, and the engine only revved up to like 3k ish [tach off, and going by engine sound]. Besides, my car is kinda dumb, it wouldn't have a damn clue about governing anything.

Cooler, I know it would be good, but I would be okay with just putting in new lines, and completely bypassing the rad. cooler? I am going to get one of those cool coolers, that are usually for rodders, you know what i'm talking about. That way I can mount it anywhere.. and I can mount it for looks!


-justin
Old 10-09-2004, 02:37 AM
  #4  
Senior Member
True Car Nut
 
LakevilleSSEi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Farmington, Minnesota =MWBF '05 SURVIVOR= =CEBF '06 SURVIVOR= =August '06 COTM=
Posts: 9,130
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
LakevilleSSEi is on a distinguished road
Default

It'* a great start to prolonging your transaxle. I'm gonna do it on mine when I get some money, before I start doin some real mods
Old 10-09-2004, 03:10 AM
  #5  
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Thread Starter
 
opensourceguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Three Oaks, Michigan
Posts: 4,879
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
opensourceguy is on a distinguished road
Default

Okay, sounds good. As long as I won't run into trouble, not using the stock lines, then all is good. One day I will be able to afford one too . I am thinking I should get one before the car is really started to be driven, but I am poor.. so I don't know how those two will combine.


-justin
Old 10-09-2004, 01:25 PM
  #6  
Junior Member
Posts like a Ricer Type-R
 
willwren's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
willwren is on a distinguished road
Default

Before playing around with the cooler, or modulator, I'd do this:

Remove a small amount of fluid to make room for a bottle of Lucas trans additive. This stuff can firm up weak shifts by raising line pressure. You might want to consider a flush before you do this, as it might just solve your problem. If you're going to flush, add some Seafoam Trans-Tune a week in advance. Then have the flush done.

How long since your filter was changed? It won't cause this problem, but might need to be done. In that case, do it like this:

Seafoam Trans Tune, drive for a week. Pull your pan and replace the filter. Top off, drive for a day or two, then go get flushed. You don't want to use the modulator or other ideas to fix something that may not be related.
Old 10-09-2004, 02:37 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Thread Starter
 
opensourceguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Three Oaks, Michigan
Posts: 4,879
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
opensourceguy is on a distinguished road
Default

hmm.. sounds good. How much is driving a week? Because, I kinda don't have really good brakes. Also, where can I get the seafoam products?

About the Lucas oil products, I saw a study, on how they are bad, and foam up and are just worthless and do nothing but harm.


-justin
Old 10-09-2004, 02:40 PM
  #8  
Junior Member
Posts like a Ricer Type-R
 
willwren's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
willwren is on a distinguished road
Default

I've run both products in my car. Never a problem. Both are available at Autozone. Drive at least 100 miles with the Seafoam in before the flush, using all gears, manual shifting as much as possible.
Old 10-09-2004, 03:48 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Thread Starter
 
opensourceguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Three Oaks, Michigan
Posts: 4,879
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
opensourceguy is on a distinguished road
Default

100 miles.. hmm.. damn gonna have to fill up the tank. Okay, will do. Hopefully I'll be able to run to AZ tomorrow, and get to work sooner, rather than later.


-justin
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
caminated2k
2000-2005
8
06-04-2019 04:57 PM
OLBlueEyesBonne
Lounge
6
04-08-2007 11:25 PM
alec_b
1992-1999
3
11-16-2005 07:42 AM
crzydmnd72
1987-1991
2
08-06-2005 03:57 PM
TaylorD
Audio (and aftermarket electronics)
13
09-02-2003 05:31 PM



Quick Reply: slow 1st gear engagement



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:08 AM.