hard shift from 1st to 2nd

[90VN55]

i need help my series 1 auto takes for ever to change from 1st to 2nd and when it does its really hard.
any help would be appreciated

[hakhawk]

mine is like that on a cold morning, and not so bad when warmer, but if i accelerate hard, it shifts smooth as. its got good oil, so i think its just the box itself might need a internal service of parts. not sure though.

[90VN55]

it does it all the time even after half an hour. could it be the kickdown cable?
p.s. if i acelerate a bit harder it goes up to about 60 and still doesnt change

[hakhawk]

shouldnt be, because its upshifting, as i said, not sure. anyone else?

[potshots007]

checked the oil? make sure its full first, either that or yeah you might need to reset your kickdown cable, could have a vacuum leak somewhere, im not sure if its the same on VNs onwards but i know the old commodores had a vacuum line to the box, good luck with it.

cheers, nick

[90VN55]

checked the oil? make sure its full first, either that or yeah you might need to reset your kickdown cable, could have a vacuum leak somewhere, im not sure if its the same on VNs onwards but i know the old commodores had a vacuum line to the box, good luck with it.

cheers, nick

the oils full.
how do u reset the kickdown cable

[90VN55]

bump

comeon guys/girls i dont want to pay a mechanic if its just adjusting something

[stockvp]

yes kickdown cable i reckon justpush the grey clip in and open the throttle up until its all the way to passenger side do this a couple of times its probably the actual valve if it keeps it up it may need machining hope this helps

[beefcream]

i hav same prob... first holds for ages in morning and give me a kick in the pants... a bad one

[azkwazere]

Could be a bad filter....if it does it when its cold, the oil in the box is thicker when cold and if your filter is crap its harder to flow therefore clucthes play up. Try changing your T-filter and then see how it goes but i may be time for a rebuild....maybe

aZK.

[SlowVac]

There is no real differents in oil as the auto uses Dextron 3.
These auto's with shiftkits are know to shift hard 1st to 2nd as its not electronic shifted(VR/VS) also have you changed the piston? From experience changing it to the covette piston would soften the shift quite abit.
I use to have the factory piston in mine which was a neck breaking shift 1-2 (but all my friends like it) then changed it the shift is softer and doen't break my neck.

[azkwazere]

no what i was saying is that if the filter is blocked and the oil is thick (when cold) then its gonna play up....loose pressure and not shift...

aZK.

[SlowVac]

no what i was saying is that if the filter is blocked and the oil is thick (when cold) then its gonna play up....loose pressure and not shift...

aZK.

That is true but if the car shifts hard all the time then adjust the kickdown cable but not too much as it can burn the bands. But if it all fails (kickdown cable resetted) then I would say change the piston.

[90VN55]

mine does it when cold and hot.

how do you tell if it has a shift kit

[SlowVac]

When accelerating the shifts would be short with minimum rev change (200-300rpm change) with a shift kit. normal auto would change 400-600rpm.
Does it change when you push the car to change gear at higher speeds(30-50kpm) or the car changes gear at lower speeds(20-30kpm) when driving normally (not pushing).
If the car shifts hard when driving normally then the car most likely have a shiftkit. If the car needs to be pushed to change gears the kickdown cable is too tight (lossen goes cable goes to the throttle plate) and possibly someone is either hiding the gearbox has issues (needs a reco).
Take the car to an auto specalist as they can resolve your issue.

[90VN55]

Does it change when you push the car to change gear at higher speeds(30-50kpm) or the car changes gear at lower speeds(20-30kpm) when driving normally (not pushing).

driving normally it changes at about 40 and pushing it 60-70

[SlowVac]

It definatly sounds like the kickdown needs adjusting (lossening). The bands in the gearbox are too tight and can snap/break.

[90VN55]

here is a pic of my throttle body can u explain what i need to do to adjust the kickdown cable?? please

[SlowVac]

With the photo shown the kickdown cable is full loosen (looks like the kickdown cable was shorten before). what you do is push in the metal tab and move the kickdown cable to the drivers side till there is tension (one click at a time and don't pull back too much).
If the car still shifts hard I recommend you to see an transmission specialist.

[CSL]

**** thats way too far over, somone has been playing with that.
as above, push that grey tap in and move the plastic shroud all the way over so it's fully inside and you seeing more cable. now jump in your car (off) and push down on the accelorator cable slowly all the way to the floor, you will hear a few load clicks, now repeat until no more clicks are heard, amnd only depress the pedel to what you feel to be (flat to the floor) becuase you can push it furether. now yu can adjust the cable to your licking once this is done. if it shifts too hard/shifts to fast move it towards passanger side, if it's too soft/takes ****ing ages to shift move it to drivers side. the method descibed above works for most but it's a good platform to work ff for adjusting.

good lcuk

[90VN55]

thanks for that SlowVac, CSL. i will do it tomorrow and let use know how i went. i hope that fixes it.

[stockvp]

why get back in the car when you can open it up on the throttle itself thats what you i do bugger gettin in and out the car and to my earlier post it could be the valve itself so a trans mech can tell you exaclty

[BlackVXGTS]

A faulty 1->2 shift solenoid can cause this problem.

[90VN55]

thanks everyone. i finally got around to fixing it. it changes alot better than what it did. still a bit rough but better. i will adjust it a bit more to get it right.

and also when i get the tranny seviced will it change and run alot better?

[stockvp]

when you go in for a service tell the guy to take it for a test then you will no he prolly will tell somthings up so go to a couple of places