[DML] Re: Questions on automatic transmissions

["Harold McElraft" <hmcelraft@xxxxxxx>]

Sounds like the computer is shot and the fluid is LOW. Don't be 
afraid to run the fluid up to the full mark when the trans is COLD. 
I would get a new computer or at least let Hervey do his thing to it 
before I drove it another foot. Also, Stephen, Don and Rob are 
correct - not the local boys, just look at the collective DeLorean 
experience talking to you.

Harold McElraft - 3354


--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Videobob Moseley" <videobob@xxxx> 
wrote:
> 
> Since we are in the thick of this topic, I would like to talk 
about the way 
> my car rides.
> My automatic shifts like a mule just kicked you.
> It winds way up and then jerks into gear with a slow slingshot 
effect.
> 
> One of my main problems is that it will not shift into 3rd until 
it is 
> warmed up good.
> If I take off on a cold day, I will have to drive in 1st gear for 
a while 
> otherwise it
> will slip gear and the motor will just spin until I put it into 
first and it 
> will catch.
> Once I get it up to a high RPM I can shift up to 2nd and it will 
go, but if 
> I put it in
> 3rd it will just slip, unless I get on the highway and punch it.
> Once I get going real fast, lets say 70 in 2nd gear then I can 
usually put 
> it in 3rd
> and it will catch....but sometimes it will simply drop back and 
forth from 
> 2nd to 3rd.
> Once the car is warmed up and finally drives smooth in 3rd, it 
will stay 
> like that as long
> as you are driving it around.
> 
> I have had people look at the trans fluid and smell it, and 
although it is 
> still red they tell
> me it smells burned, and I have been told not to replace the fluid 
because 
> if I do
> it will melt the inside of my transmission.
> Of course Stephen Wynne told me that was BS and to go ahead and do 
it.
> So I don't know who to believe.
> But as far as I know the car has never had a trans service in 35K 
of life, 
> but I am
> afraid to do it.
> I just dont know what to do about it because I can not afford to 
send it to 
> Stegar.
> I have had local trans shops tell me that they can rebuild it for 
me for 
> about $800
> but of course Stegar and Grady both tell me that these trans shops 
only
> "think they know what they are looking at" and "could not possibly 
do it for 
> that".
> 
> All I know is that I have a serious problem with the transmission 
and it is 
> running like crap
> because of it, it is robbing me of power and making me rev the 
engine too 
> much.
> On cold mornings like we have had lately, I need to warm up the 
car for 
> about 20
> minutes before I can drive it.
> 
> So what should I do?
> 
> - Videobob
> 
> >From: "Harold McElraft" <hmcelraft@xxxx>
> >Reply-To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >Subject: [DML] Re: Questions on automatic transmissions
> >Date: Thu, 16 Dec 2004 12:28:12 -0000
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >An accurately setup auto shifts nice and smooth hot or cold - in
> >really cold weather the shifts are a little smoother - almost
> >unnoticeable - warmed up - noticeable but smooth - no banging or
> >jerking. I notice the change in engine sound more than anything
> >along with more getup, especially at WOT. Never notice down 
shifting
> >at coasting to stops or stopping. Down shifting from throttle
> >response is firm but smooth and up shift the same - I try never to
> >let the trans have to go through two gear shifts at once - i.e.
> >first to third or third to first (I just visualize too much stuff
> >going on in there for the by-pass of gears to be good for it).
> >
> >To get what I consider a really smooth trans took me a few years 
of
> >working with an auto trans that was abused in its early years and
> >run for some time with the computer screwed up.
> >
> >Three critical adjustments: The trans throttle cable, the computer
> >working correctly and the vacuum module. And, the engine has to be
> >working and idling correctly. In terms of problem areas I'd say
> >first computer, then engine running correctly, throttle 
adjustment,
> >vacuum module. Last, trans internals.
> >
> >The whine - is it in first or at the shift 1-2 only? That sounds
> >like a trans filter clogged up or air in the system. Have you
> >serviced the trans lately? The harsh down shift is a symptom of a
> >faulty computer but an engine with a fast idle or slow to idle
> >symptom will cause a similar issue.
> >
> >Diagnosing a D trans is really an art as much as a science in my
> >experience. But, you have to be sure you're dealing with one 
problem
> >not two or more. That requires checking everything one at a time.
> >
> >Harold McElraft - 3354
> >
> >
> >
> >--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Enid/Jeremiah
> ><hispanicangeleyes@xxxx> wrote:
> > >
> > > Hey everyone,
> > >
> > > A couple questions.  I never really paid any attention
> > > to it, but I was wondering how a ideal working
> > > automatic transmission shifts.  Obviously,
> > > 1st->2nd->3rd, but what is its behavior?  Is it
> > > supposed to shift really hard and firmly, or does it
> > > shift softly like todays modern cars where one can
> > > barely feel a shift at all?  Would a change in
> > > temperature (summer vs winter weather) have a effect
> > > on the shifting patterns?  Also, when the automatic
> > > transmission downshifts, should you be able to really
> > > feel the downshifts or should it be really smooth and
> > > almost unnoticeable?  My car shifts up very firmly,
> > > and it downshifts from 2nd to 1st very firmly, but I
> > > don't really detect any downshifting from 3rd to 2nd.
> > >
> > > One last thing.  Lately with the morning temperature
> > > in the mid 20's, I've noticed a high-pitched whine
> > > when going from first to second.  This is if the car
> > > is driven with no warm-up idle time.  Today, I let it
> > > warm up to about 160 degrees, and it doesn't make this
> > > noise driving down the street with warm up time.  Is
> > > this anything to take note about, or is this just how
> > > the car behaves when driven from a dead cold start in
> > > 25 degrees?
> > >
> > > Thank you for your time.
> > >
> > > Jeremiah
> > >
> > >
> > >
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> >
> >
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> >








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