Hi, I just bought an 87 Trans Am 305 TPI/700r4... The tranny shifts real hard, and when its in overdrive, it will ocassionally pop out of gear, like I shifted to neutral. And after it does that, it wont go into ANY gear. But if you shut the car off, and start it back up, it works fine but will eventually do it again. Any ideas whats doing this, or do I need a new tranny? Thanks

 

Check your engine and trans mounts. A broken mount will allow the trans to jerk up and pull the shifter cable.. This could yank it into neutral.

 

True, but if im cruisin down the highway and it slips.. I come to a stop on the side of the road, and it wont go back into ANY gear R/OD/D/2/1 at all without shutting the key off, and restarting the engine. Then it will go again. I dont think that is the shifter cable. Thanks for the suggestion though!!

 

Sounds like the TV cable either needs to be adjusted.. or the trans is on the way out... I would try the TV cable adjustment first.. just to see if that helps... I know for a fact that if that thing is not adjusted right it will make your trans go crazy... I bent my throttle/tv cable bracket last night (bent it almost in half) and it pulled the tv cable out of adjustment and the trans would not shift out of first and it was sloppy ( thats is when i pulled over immediately and bent the braket back and it worked fine from there on out after i readjusted the cable. (however there is no way i will even drive the car again until i get a brand new bracket.)

 

How do I adjust the TV cable? Its just suppose to be fully extended when the throttle is wide open correct? If so, thats how its adjusted.

 

Somebody has to know why this tranny is doing this.... Anyone?

 

you adjust it by pressing the d button on the tv cable.. and then push the throttle to WOT. you then let off the d button. then let off the throttle... just because it looks like it is adjusted does not mean it is.

 

Its set correctly then. Thats how my buddy adjusted it...

 

well if you are still having those goofy problems then the trans very likely is on it's last leg before it comes apart...

 

That's also known as "slipping". I.E. the transmission is slipping out of gear.

Major causes - worn or burnt clutches and steels, worn torque converter and or TC lockup surfaces, low line pressure due to worn seals/bushings or failing pump. This could also be due to low fluid level, or even a worn governor or stretched out TV cable could do this.

Short answer (after you read all that) - it's rebuild time. Pony up another grand or so on your new car, or if your so inclined - Learn how to tear it down yourself and only spend $400. It's probably why the last person sold it...

Note: This is almost exactly how the transmission in my last car finally ate it. Driving along and suddenly your not in gear anymore. That car went to the boneyard in the sky.

 

Yeah, the guy i got it from said the tranny was goofy. I have another tranny that is suppose to be rebuilt. So I will shove it in there and see how it works. Thanks for the replies!!