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Where's 3rd gear?

6K views 50 replies 12 participants last post by  Magnus 
#1 ·
67/200/c4/PRND21 daily driver (I think that covers everything)

I just drove to the store and everything was great. Fire it up to hit a few more stops and now the car doesn't upshift. I can manually switch between 2nd and 1st, but in the 5 minutes it was stopped 3rd gear has gone completely missing.

In 'D':
I only have 1st gear. Starts off fine, never upshifts. If I'm running in 2nd and switch back to 'D' it will act like it's in neutral above ~25MPH. Less than that and it will re-engage 1st.

In '1':
Runs in first gear like you'd expect. I can manually shift to 2nd just fine.

In '2':
Runs in second gear like you'd expect. I can manually shift to 1st just fine.

Fluid checks out ok.

What the heck just happened? How did parking for 5 minutes somehow kill my upshifting and 3rd gear? I drive this car all the time, so it's not like it's sat and something's gone bad from lack of use.

Do these symptoms sound familiar to anybody? Please tell me it's just the vacuum modulator or something like that. I've got some more running around to do while I let the car cool off and then I'll dig into the shop manual and the car. This just doesn't make any sense that it just stopped shifting out of the blue with no warning or anything.

Thanks
 
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#2 ·
Update:
I pulled the hose off of the vacuum module and no fluid comes out. I don't see any obvious fluid in the line either.

I disconnected the line for it under the hood and put a vacuum pump on it. I can pull a vacuum but it slowly leaks down about 1psi every 2 seconds. Not sure if that's normal or not, but there's never been a hose clamp on the modulator end of the hose so it's not surprising that it might leak a little.

Is there a way to test a modulator? I can't find one in the shop manual but I may just be missing it. Checking the fluid and making sure the module doesn't leak is pretty much the extent of my transmission knowledge so if anyone's got ideas I'd love to hear them.

The only recent work I've done on the car was to install new strut rod bushings yesterday and since it doesn't look like I crushed the cooling lines doing it I don't think those had anything to do with this so I really don't know what's happened here.
 
#3 ·
Put your vacuum pump on the modulator. It should hold vacuum. If it leaks down, replace it. Make sure you don't lose the rod inside. Make sure the lines you're using for the vacuum line are actual vacuum line, wouldn't be the first time a piece of washer tubing found it's way in there.
 
#4 ·
replace module with correct one
 
#5 · (Edited)
Ok so I put the vacuum pump directly to the modulator and it holds vacuum just fine. So that little bit of a leak down is in the lines.

Does that mean the modulator's good?

If it does, what's next?

Following the 'No shift points' checklist in the manual the next thing is the linkage, so I'm going to go look at that but I'm not sure what to check past that point.


UPDATE:
The linkage is still attached with it's cotter pins still in place at both ends. It can pivot a little in it's joint but the rod and the transmission can't move independently from the shifter. Kinda figured it was still in place since I shifted the whole way home, but the confirmation's nice.
 
#7 ·
Vacuum at the modulator is 18-19 depending on the rpms and how far the choke is open.

One weird thing though. When I was running the car to check the vacuum I rechecked the fluid level and the dip stick was dry. The fluid was the first thing I checked when I got home and it was over the full level then. Somehow between then and when I was checking the vacuum that fluid disappeared.

I added some more (maybe a pint) and reconnected the modulator and tried driving around the block and it didn't change anything. Now the dip stick looks like it did when I first got home. The fluid is well over the full mark with the car hot and idling.

I don't know what's going on. I don't see any obvious leaking, the lines are still connected, there's no Type-F in the radiator, the modulator holds vacuum and it's getting 18-19inHg. So what am I missing?
 
#10 ·
I moved the kickdown lever a little while I was looking at the linkage and it didn't seem stuck to me, but I'll check that again in the morning and make sure it's not binding.

I have not run a control pressure check. I've actually never heard of it before, so I'm learning something new today. If I'm reading the shop manual right it looks like I need to remove a plug near the NSS, thread in an oil pressure gauge that can take up to 268psi, and run through the gears? Is that right? I'm not sure I have a gauge that goes that high, I'm gonna have to look.

Have I got that right? I'm basing that off of the 67 shop manual pages 7-4 - 7-5.
 
#11 ·
Quick update:

I can pull the kick down lever forward about an inch-ish and then the external spring smoothly moves it back into place. So it doesn't seem stuck. Unless it's really really stuck and is supposed to move more than that.

While I've been typing this, looking at the shop manual and editing pictures to attach I think I've confused myself. Using this grainy pic from the shop manual can somebody tell me which plug is the control pressure take-off hole?
Auto part Illustration


I was thinking it was the big square plug, but the more I look at it I think I see that in the illustration so maybe the correct port is the one way off on the left?
Auto part


So am I checking the pressure behind door number 1 or door number 2?

Thanks
 
#14 · (Edited)
It's a good thing #1 didn't want to come loose then.

So, on to the test results. I've got a vacuum gauge hooked up tee'd off at the modulator end and a mechanical oil pressure gauge plugged into the take-off port. I ran the car for 5 minutes in a 90° garage to make sure the choke kicked down, and it wouldn't go any lower, but the idle might still be a hair high. I don't have a tach so I don't have solid numbers there. I just wanted to mention it to be thorough.

So here's what we've got:
Time | Transmission PSI | Vacuum inHg | Gear
1605 | 65PSI | 19.5" | P * Choke on, fast idle
1607 | 60PSI | 18" | P
1610 | 60PSI | 18" | P
1611 | > 100 | ?? | R * Gauge only goes to 100
1611 | 65PSI | 18" | P
1611 | 65PSI | 18" | N
1611 | 70PSI | 14" | 2
1611 | 95PSI | 14" | 1
1612 | 75PSI | 14" | D
1612 | 65PSI | 18" | P

So it's definitely got pressure in every gear. The vacuum drops when I stick it in gear since the engine's struggling against me standing on the brakes. I missed the vacuum reading in Reverse while I was quickly taking it back out of gear since it had more pressure than my gauge can show.

The only thing that seemed odd to me was that I was getting 60PSI in Park until I tried Reverse and after that I kept getting 65. I don't know if that's significant or if I just broke the gauge, but it's the only thing that jumps out to me.

Do these numbers mean anything to anybody?<table width="1" height="1"><tbody><tr><td>
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#15 · (Edited)
Tranny fluid should be checked only with the engine running and the car in gear. Pull the e-brake and maybe just for a bit of safety block the wheels.


You may need to re-sync your shifter notches with the transmission detents and make sure the shifter is puting the trans lever in the correct positions. Usually checking and adjusting in neutral first then park and 1 will get it lined up.



It is acting however like the valve body needs to be cleaned out which I would take it to a transmission shop for that.
 
#16 ·
Strange. My transmission dip stick says specifically to check when idling in Park.

I had to move the car so I drove it down a couple houses and back and re-checked the numbers. This time 2nd is reading a lot higher than before.

Time | Transmission PSI | Vacuum inHg | Gear
1735 | 65PSI | 18.5" | P
1735 | > 100 | 14" | R * Gauge only goes to 100
1735 | 65PSI | 18" | N
1735 | 70PSI | 14" | D
1735 | 98PSI | 14" | 2
1735 | 98PSI | 14" | 1
 
#19 ·
Strange. My transmission dip stick says specifically to check when idling in Park.

I think it should be in park. But it has to be FULLY warmed up to check the fluid level. Meaning make sure the car was driven for miles and miles to get to full operating temp. Not just idling in the driveway.

I’m only saying all this because I had the exact same thing happen to me. It was warmed up enough and showed the level low. I over filled it. It didn’t ****. I sucked fluid out the full pipe and fixed the problem.

Good luck with whatever it is.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#17 · (Edited)
You're missing the modulator pin. Without the pin you'll get 1 and 2, but it won't go into 3rd.
You can cut a nail to the correct size. Pull the vacuum modulator out of the tranny. The pin goes into the tube that goes into the tranny. Attached chart shows 3 pin lengths. The longer the pin, the longer it takes to shift from one gear to another.
Put the pin into the modulator and put it back into the tranny. You'll be happy.
 

Attachments

#18 ·
While I'm excited to think that it might be something as simple as a missing pin, I don't think this modulator's been off since the 90s. If the pin is missing, where would it go?

I'll yank the modulator off tomorrow and see if the pin is still there. Maybe it's stuck in place or something.
 
#20 ·
If idling in the driveway isn't enough to warm it up then you're right it hasn't been really warmed up since this problem started. Actually it probably wasn't even warmed up then since I only drove it 5 miles, turned it off for maybe 5 minutes, and then when I turned it back on it didn't shift anymore.

Prior to this I haven't added any fluid or touched the transmission at all in I don't know how long so while it's probably over filled now it should've been ok when it started acting up. I did just spill a good bit when I took the modulator out so we should be closer to the original level now too. I should probably go check that that's still not leaking.

On to today's investigation: the modulator. This modulator was installed in 2008 approximately 31,000 miles ago. It's brass with a little white paint on it and it seems ok from what I can tell.
It will hold 20" of vacuum for well over 20 minutes with no problem.
It has the pin in it, and it's approximately 1-11/16" (1.669"/42.41mm per my HF caliper)
The pin is in the fluid and there is no fluid on the vacuum side.
The pin normally sticks out about 13/16" (.843"/21.42mm)
Applying vacuum pulls in the pin. At 20"Hg the pin sticks out about 5/8" (.624"/15.86mm)
Releasing the vacuum returns the pin to it's normal position.

So from what I can tell the pin is the right length and the modulator seems to be moving it back and forth based on the applied vacuum.

Is there anything else I should check with the modulator or do we rule that out at this point? If we're calling the modulator good, what do I check next? I'm ok inside the engine block but I'm a total newbie in the transmission so please excuse me if I'm missing something obvious or asking something stupid.
 
#22 ·
Your control pressures seem within the normal range. You are getting boosted pressure in reverse, and in "2" and "1" range. You also need to check the pressures with the vacuum line unhooked, and the engine at 1500rpm. We need to see how the pressure gets boosted by the vacuum modulator/throttle pressure valve train.


If you have the wrong modulator, or if yours is mis-adjusted. pressures may be going to high. Why this would matter, you ask? Well, the vacuum modulator/throttle valve affects shift points by how much it causes line pressure to rise. If the line pressure goes too high, upshifts are delayed to a speed that the vehicle cannot reach.
 
#23 ·
I appreciate everyone sticking in here and working with me on this.Together we can narrow it down piece by piece and get this problem solved and get back on the road with more than 2 gears.

I think the T5 would be a blast behind the 200, but unless one mysteriously drops off the back of a truck outside my driveway I think I'm gonna keep trying to fix the C4 that's been in there since the 60s.

And now for today's test. We have results, but I'm not sure what to make of them.

I hooked up ye olde Sears Engine Analyzer so I've got a tach and I re-installed the vacuum modulator and blocked off the vacuum line so the modulator is basically just sitting there filling in the hole.

As soon as I start the car the transmission pressure pegs my 100psi gauge back around at the pin at 0. I went through all the gears and the needle never moved.

I drove it around the block (~1/2 mile) and the needle never moved.

When I turned the car off the needle only dropped back down to 21psi and it's been sitting there for 20 minutes now. Not sure if that means I broke the gauge or if the transmission is really holding that pressure. I figured I'd see if it bleeds down and if not I'll go out in an hour or two and loosen the fitting and see what happens.

So with the modulator hooked up I get different pressures in each gear and without it I get >100psi the entire time the car is running. Does that make sense?
 
#25 ·
Yip.

I took the fittings loose and the gauge was still stuck at 21psi.

I dug around my garage and found some gauges that go to 200, but of course they don't have the same fittings so now I'm off to the hardware store to see what I can cobble together.
 
#26 ·
Ok we have results!

at 1500 RPM with the vacuum modulator in place but the hose disconnected and plugged we have:

P - 138 PSI
R - > 200 PSI * Gauge only goes to 200
N - 138 PSI
D - 138 PSI
2 - 138 PSI
1 - 138 PSI

Aside from Reverse it really doesn't change at all between gears. Reverse went well past 200 but I haven't run across a 300 PSI gauge in the garage yet so I can't say exactly how far past 200.
 
#28 ·
I asked someone I know who used to work at a lube place that checked all the fluids and he said they did the trans fluid check warmed up and in low 1 after they had cycled the transmission manually through all the selectable gears. I didn't think I got that out of no where. I just checked my truck trans and it is the same level of a bit low in park and first so it may not really make any difference.


I'm back to the check the shifter notch alignment with the transmission detents. I have a cable shift linkage on my mustang and I have to set it just right for the transmission to act right. I adjust it in neutral then check park and 1 to make sure it runs through the whole range correctly. I have had it off and made the transmission act pretty wonky before. It winds up almost on the transmission detent but not quite.
 
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