Tranny getting ready to puke? August 07, 2007, 11:47:07 AM Alright heres the deal, Car is an 87 Bird with the 3.8 and auto trans and roughly 138xxx miles. Today while driving it seemed as though it wasnt shifting up after nearing the 25-30mph range. All other functions seem normal at this time as far as reverse and starting off. Fluid doesnt smell burnt and is filled to the correct area but it doesnt appear to have much color, not a tranny guy but shouldnt it be red? Anyhow I in my head I have condemned the trans but figured I would inquire if there might be any things to check before that. Also what tranny might be in this car? Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions or thoughts. Quote Selected
Tranny getting ready to puke? Reply #1 – August 07, 2007, 04:48:32 PM Usually fluid at that kind of mileage, the fluid will start to turn a brown rather than red, are you saying the fluid is clear? Thats new to me. Are you getting late shifts in just first gear? Or all gears? If you want to identify the trans, then look at the pan. if it is just a square pan, then it is either a c4 or a c5. If its an aod, the pan will look similar, but be slightly angled near the back of the trans. It should be an aod as they supposedly stopped making everything else in 86(c4,c5) but you never know, maybe your car was made on friday and they just threw whatever was lying around in it. Get me more info and I might be able to diagnose you better. Heres a pic of the pans. If it is the square one, then look at the adjusting bolt and see if it is fine or coarse thread. fine = c5, coarse = c4. Let me know.:birdsmily: Quote Selected
Tranny getting ready to puke? Reply #2 – August 07, 2007, 05:08:11 PM Usually fluid at that kind of mileage, the fluid will start to turn a brown rather than red, are you saying the fluid is clear? Thats new to me. Are you getting late shifts in just first gear? Or all gears? If you want to identify the trans, then look at the pan. if it is just a square pan, then it is either a c4 or a c5. If its an aod, the pan will look similar, but be slightly angled near the back of the trans. It should be an aod as they supposedly stopped making everything else in 86(c4,c5) but you never know, maybe your car was made on friday and they just threw whatever was lying around in it. Get me more info and I might be able to diagnose you better. Heres a pic of the pans. If it is the square one, then look at the adjusting bolt and see if it is fine or coarse thread. fine = c5, coarse = c4. Let me know.:birdsmily: Quote Selected
Tranny getting ready to puke? Reply #3 – August 07, 2007, 05:08:28 PM you should swap to a4ld. i only say that because i've got one for sale. Quote Selected
Tranny getting ready to puke? Reply #4 – August 07, 2007, 05:37:21 PM Well from the pan choices I would call it an AOD. The fluid I wouldnt call clear but I can see a tint of brown to it. I dont feel any late shifts going to first either. Honestly if I hadnt been heading out of town I doubt I would have noticed any difference at all today as from 0-near 30 it seems fine. Not having owned the car for the first 130k or so I dont know of the cars maint history but I would imagine its not well. Thanks for the help Quote Selected
Tranny getting ready to puke? Reply #5 – August 07, 2007, 06:23:16 PM Just look at the pan itself. I belive all AOD's ( atleast all I have seen) physicaly say Automatic Overdrive on them unless it's an aftermarket pan. I'll snag ya a pic if you want to help out. As for the not shifting up, and it is in fact an AOD... I would say the TV cable is either messed up and not connected or out of tune/adjustment Quote Selected
Tranny getting ready to puke? Reply #6 – August 07, 2007, 08:18:40 PM This infamous TV cable that everyone speaks of, what is it and where is it, internal or external? The guy that builds the 1965 Birds with me got me in touch with a tranny guy who said he could rebuild it for $600, Seems good to me but let me hear some opinions to that. Remember I live in the middle of nowhere so labor is a fraction of what it costs in metro areas. Quote Selected
Tranny getting ready to puke? Reply #7 – August 07, 2007, 08:41:56 PM Quote from: Dansbirds;166926This infamous TV cable that everyone speaks of, what is it and where is it, internal or external? The guy that builds the 1965 Birds with me got me in touch with a tranny guy who said he could rebuild it for $600, Seems good to me but let me hear some opinions to that. Remember I live in the middle of nowhere so labor is a fraction of what it costs in metro areas.I rebuild alot of transmissions and from what it costs me to do so, that is a pretty good deal. the rebuild kit costs around 100-150 and a new torque converter about the same. So he isn't making much. The TV cable is connected around the throttle linkage , and runs down to where the shifter linkage is at(drivers side). You can re-adjust this, as it costs nothing. I think there is a thread around here that explains the process. Hope all that and the double post there helped you out. Quote Selected
Tranny getting ready to puke? Reply #8 – August 07, 2007, 10:09:45 PM Quote from: turboranger91;166881you should swap to a4ld. i only say that because i've got one for sale.A4LD only fit 2.3s or some of the SMALL V6s (3.0 for example but the 2.3/3.0 bell patterns do not interchange there are different versions) will not fit a 3.8... Quote Selected
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