I bought my 89 GTA last April. I have noticed that almost everytime it shifts into second it shifts pretty hard. When I RUN it, it always breaks loose in second. When I am driving around in the street it will sometimes kick pretty hard in second. Finally the question, is this normal or did the owner before me(I am the second owner) do some work on it or is it a problem.

Thanks Brian

 

Sounds like you need to readjust your TV cable, search for transfixleo's method.

 

If it is shifting late to second gear then likely the TV Cable is adjusted too tight. You will need to loosen the cable a bit to lower the TV (Throttle Valve) presure. Lowering the presure will make the shifts a little earlier and softer. Scribe a line on TV adjuster so that you will have a referance for the amount of adjustment you are making.

 

After you figure it's not the t v cable remove the pan and check the second accumulator, my bet is either the spring is broken or someone put a spacer in it or blocked it's feed hole to disable it.

 

I dont know anything about the TV Cable but it doesnt shift too high. It just shifts hard sometimes. Here is what happens once every 10 shifts or so: The light turns green and I am not in any hurry, I accelerate to where it would shift into second at about 2500rpms, then it uhh kicks my head back as it shifts into second. When I am racing I will give it all the pedal it can take and when it shifts into second(every time) the wheels loose it, spin(the length of time obviously depends on the road) but accelerates hard. Hope this helps with suggestions.

Jay727 How do I go about checking the second accumulator?

Thanks Brian

 

Yeah, mine shifts into second hard too. Isn't it great!

 

I love that it shifts hard, it lets people know what up. My wife hates it! I just want to make sure it isnt messing something up.

 

The 3rd gen 700R4's have a reputation for hard shifts, stock. Mechanically, it doesn't concern me after about 18 mos of owning mine. The only minor concern is an upshift, in a turn, in the rain...

 

guy b4 you probly had some work done to it, not sure how much but level ten rebiult mine and it shifts like a ***********........i chirp at lights just to annoy people

 

Will it hurt the transmission to block off the second accumulator valve??

 

No but you'll look like a jackass chirping tires at low speeds, try something a little more impressive to get attention.
The shift quality absolutly sucks with the second acuumulator blocked. Instead add a few washers just a little smaller than the diameter of the piston, maybe a 1/4 inch thick, it'll give you a decent low throttle shift and firm tire chirping shift with more throttle.

The second accumulator is accessed by removing the pan, it's the round aluminum housing towards the rear drivers side and it's held in place by three bolts. The piston and spring are inside of the housing.

 

I've never heard that one before. Really sounds like some of you guys need to adjust your TV cable.

 

It is very hard on the gear train to have it shift hard at light throttle. You want the shifts to get progressively firmer with more throttle opening, not harsh/bang shifts at light throttle. The Transd-Go Shift kits address this problem.

 

It really sounds like some one put a B&M kit in your car! Ive driven a few cars with B&M shift "de"-improver kits in them and they also shift harshly from 1st to second. Pull the pan and remove the 1/2 accumulator housing and see if there's some spacer sleves in there, if there is give Probuilt a call and get that sucker out ASAP!

 

It is not the 2nd gear accumulator that creates the harsh shifts unless it is blocked, it is the 2nd gear feed hole in the valve body plate, is drilled to .110-.125, way to big! In our high 10 & low 11 second vehicles (that I have built transmissions for), we still have not drilled the 2nd feed hole bigger than .099, not necessary.

 

True, but pulling the 1/2 acumulator to check for spacers will be a sure fire way to see if some one has been molesting the transmission.