Trans won't engage 2nd gear? (Auto)

[Predator86]

I was driving to work on wed. and as im driving the car would stay in 1st gear....i would let go of the throttle and it would go into neutral but once i hit the gas it just free revs up till about 3500 RPMs and then catches, bring me up til about 40-45 mph and then redline at 4500 and then this cycle just continues...

I still got it into my work at the STS in manville where it is still sitting until i figure out the problem...i have to do something quick because i dont have another car

Its my 86 firebird with the TH-700R4 auto transmission....

also i heard something about a "vacuum solenoid or module" thats under the car and outside the trans pan...could that be my issue?

any suggestions would be great thanks

[johnjzjz]

could Be a broken converter but i am sure the trans might have to come out i might have a used one ? will look tomorrow if you want i seen a few in the crawl space ( high and dry ) the other day - and would not have keep a unit that did not work -- jz

[Predator86]

Is there a way to test for a bad torque converter?

[johnjzjz]

not really but what happens is the lock up part is an alloy disc and it shreads into grains of sand when worn out and it ends up in everything causing all kinds of engagement and shifing problems as well as slipping < to check it it has to be removed from car and cut in two to get inside not a house job < but you cant just swap it out you have to overhaul the trans as well to remove all the chips -- jz

[JSPERFORMANCE]

trans is wasted. you will need an overhaul and a new converter

[Predator86]

Originally Posted by JSPERFORMANCE

trans is wasted. you will need an overhaul and a new converter

i think u may be wrong....

ive done the research...printed some stuff...played around with it and i think i may have found it....actually im almost certain...

i susspected it was the govenor so i dropped the drive shaft and the crossmember...un bolted and removed the governor housing and i saw little blue plastic pieces...

turns out the gear was completley shattered and not catching at all

now the only replacement part i could find was all the way in newark so i went there and now im gonna re-install everything tommorow morning and cross my fingers and pray to god!


http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l2...9999999999.jpg

(The top is the broken governor and the bottom is the new one im gonna put in....the issue is clear)

[JSPERFORMANCE]

That is definately a common problem. When you had described your problem I had figured that the governor was hung up which is usually caused by trash from the trans eating itself getting stuck in it.

When you replace the gear it should work fine for a while. Problem is by the time they wreck the gear they are usually almost used up anyways. Expect the typical two-three or three-four flair to start coming on in the near future.

At least this will give you some time to save up a little $$ for the re-build.

[Predator86]

i replaced it and the car runs like new...i dodged a major bullet

and i dunno if i can really use that as a foreshadowing of total trans failure because its a metal spline hitting a plastic gear...not many good ways for that to end

[JSPERFORMANCE]

Good for you, I am glad your back up and running and I hope it lasts for a long time.

[Predator86]

Originally Posted by JSPERFORMANCE

Good for you, I am glad your back up and running and I hope it lasts for a long time.

thanks me 2