I have a 88 firebird 5.0 auto and the 2-3 and 3-4 gear changes have a slight slip to them. The tranny also does not like to downshift when at WOT such as when passing. The tranny also seems to shift too early(shifts occur under 3000 at WOT) The tranny fluid is sort of light brown and I think needs to be changed also if the TV cable is out of adjustment how can you tell and fix on my car? Thanks for all the help in advance.

 

To adjust the TV Cable skip the book method and do this: Press the D button on the adjuster and loosen the cable setting. Now, have someone floor the gas pedal while you check to see if the throttle plate is open all the way. Usually they are off a little and will wiggle. Do whatever you have to do to get it open solid. Now, with the pedal floored, press the D button and pull the cable back as hard as you can and release the button. You now have the engine, tranny and gas pedal all in sync at WOT. Mark the cable so if for some reason it gets moved you can know where to put it again. The problem with the 'self adjust method' is that it bends things and puts them permanently out of whack. It is also the full TV setting, which is theoretically what the GM method does.

 

Im kind of slow, does any one have any pics and is there a button on the end of the TV cable to push ( the D button mentioned)?

 

Ive also noticed that it seems like the tranny is sliping out of overdrive when accelerating to 35-40 mph then later about 50-60 it shifts back into overdrive. Could a fluid and filter change cure this? I just bought the car a week ago and dont know if the fluid and filter have ever been changed (130,000 miles).

 

Are you describing a downshift? That would be normal.

 

When the car shifts into 4th gear and after about 1 or 2 sec it will down shift to 3rd at no throttle increase. When cold this does not happen but when warm it occurs every time. Unless you have the revs over 1500 it will not stay in 4th instead it will slip back into 3rd untill you are over 1500 rpm.

 

Don't change the fluid.
Go to the nearest tranny shop for a rebuild.
Does the car smell like someone is taring a road or roof? When hot up hill?
Mine did right before I changed the fluid.
Changed the fluid.
No more tranny after that.

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

check your states leomon laws!!!! I got my 700r4 rebuilt by the best transmission shop in Boston. thankfully I put the car on the road 7 days after I bought it,the tranny blew after 100 miles of NORMAL driving! of course there was no more "normal" driving once I got it back from the shop front to back rebuild they said,I don't even want ot know how much it costs the guy I bought it from. the tranny still works and I've owned this car since I was 17 (1997) possibly 40-50k miles on it now,first 20k very rough!! if you get your tranny rebuilt like I did,lay off the brake stands and dognuts, get a shifter,shift kit,and a trany cooler. just drive it and let it do it's thing abuse will only catch up when you have no money to fix it.