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View Full Version : Is my trans like your trans?



MarauderBoy
11-17-2002, 08:36 PM
I'm trying to get a handle on proper trans behavior so please comment on yours

When I am driving in normal circumstances (D, overdrive on), the shift points sound very slushy. They are definitely not crisp. WOT from a dead stop (D, overdrive off) does not produce a firm 1/2 shift (no bark).

If I switch to manual, the whole car changes. Firm 1/2, 2/3 shifts.

I have read about the shifter needing adjustment based on reverse being hard to find. I have this issue as well. Does this adjustment help cure the slushy shifts or is something that is inherent of this tranny? Chip guys, what have you experienced when you upgraded?

LincMercLover
11-17-2002, 09:04 PM
Mine's nice and firm in both. May want to check your tranny fluid. Mine was about 1/3 of a quart low. Not much... but still I noticed shifts on the highway (passing and 3rd) were made a lot quicker.

Brian
11-17-2002, 09:09 PM
MarauderBoy -
I have experienced exactly the same thing as you have.

To the best of my knowledge, the transmission is calibrated to give a firmer upshift if shifted manually at high RPMs than you will get if you let the box shift itself.

Believe it or not most people feel that having a smooth and seamless shift in an automatic transmission is a positive thing. Marauder auto trans shifts have a bit more bite to them, but not much, as this is still supposed to be an all-around car. Some journalists have mentioned that they think that the car doesn't shift smoothly enough. I guess it is all what you want or what you expect.

The calibration definitely does upshift more sharply when manually upshifting. That was apparently done to give the driver a bit more excitement if manually going through the gears. I guess the thought was that if you are using fully automatic mode, then you deserve a smooth shift, which for all except perhaps the high performance world is considered a good and luxurious thing. If you are manually stepping through your automatic box, then they figured that you are out to have a little more fun.

A shifter that needs adjustment will only adjust the selector on the console with the proper gear selector position at the trans attachment point. If you are having difficulty getting reverse to engage (have to push against the top of the gate), have the shifter cable adjusted. (Adjustment is near the trans attachment.) Since the difference between auto shifting and manual shifting is in software, this adjustment will have no effect on that situation.

Brian
11-17-2002, 09:10 PM
MarauderBoy -

LincMercLover has a good point. Trans fluid level can also affect the feel of the shifts. Check it.

nomad
11-18-2002, 10:47 AM
get a chip!!!!!!!!! with chip you will feel each and every shift. 2nd to 3rd gear shift will set you back in seat. plus car goes really,really fast!!!!!!:D

Macon Marauder
11-18-2002, 11:12 AM
I haven't tried shifting mine manually. When in D with O/D on my trans feels - well - hesitant I guess. It's only got about 550 miles on it, so I haven't driven very hard at all. Never even had it at WOT yet. I would expect (hope?) that it would be crisper under more demanding driving. But I'm not expecting it to chirp the tires even then.

I'll probably spring for a chip when I've gotten it good and broken in.

helifool
11-18-2002, 12:34 PM
Chipped mine when new. Very noticeable inprovement in performance with crisp, quick, and firm tranny shifts. Highly recommended.

MarauderBoy
11-18-2002, 07:02 PM
Brian - interesting news about the manual shift programming. I haven't heard that previously. Does anyone know if the chip simply taps into this programming full time?