VL Auto Powershift stopped working?

[I drive a VL Commodore]

Today while driving home I noticed that the powershift on my VL 4-speed auto appeared to stop working. When accelerating from a standstill, when the powershift was engaged (light on) it would drop into top gear as normal. Also engaging the powershift when cruising in top gear at 60-80km did not cause a gear change.

Some details:

•Fluid was replaced about a week ago. 3.4 litres approx~ of Dextron II. This was the first change I had done on this type of car, the manual said 3.4 litres. Is that the correct amount and type?

•I had been giving the car a good flogging as I was driving through some steep terrain and needed to keep my speed up due to traffic.

•Aside from this powershift fault, as far as this Layman can see, there are no other faults with the transmission.

•I pulled over to check the fluid levels when this problem started and I although I could not make heads or tails of the reading (which was way up past full - the engine was not running but was still at op. temp.) there was no indication of total fluid loss.

What are possible causes of this condition?

 

[detox_nath83]

basically its really an overdrive button to engage 4th gear.
Could be the plug under the T bar as well
or faulty button so the Trans ECU is not recognising button position.
i would suggest check plugs on Trans ECU i know that if it is unplugged it only uses First, Second and Third gears and not overdrive.

Located under drivers side plastic panel roughly where your Right knee is while driving.
Goodluck bud

 

[harry3]

overfilling the trans fluid causes many problems

check fluid level when all is warmed up and engine idling, put selector thru all settings first, yes its not easy to read fluid on dipstick, some newspaper against bottom of it makes things easier

how dod you get rid of the old fluid?helps to measure what comes out and to put in an equal amount of new fluid

easiest way to remove some is to undo a line to trans fuuid cooler, start engine in idle and some will leak out

these 2 fluid hoses should be replaced as they often eventually leak

 

[I drive a VL Commodore]

Well I drove the car this morning and the problem seems to have fixed itself. Did the climb up McIntyre road with no troubles.

Is it possible I just trigged some sort of safety cutoff from the spirited driving?

 

[TUF UTE]

vl... safety cutoff ? lol

87 commos werent that advanced, prob just a bad connection or worn tbar switch

 

[Goon]

overheating? temp getting to hot?

 

[I drive a VL Commodore]

overheating? temp getting to hot?

The engine temp gauge was a fair bit past half way, probably around the 2/3rds mark. As I said I'd been just about fully flat out for 2-3 minutes getting the barge up the hill and it wasn't exactly cold outside at the time.

 

[Goon]

from my understanding the power only works a certain temp??.. i guess temp below or over might disable it..

 

[I drive a VL Commodore]

from my understanding the power only works a certain temp??.. i guess temp below or over might disable it..

I have noticed that it won't engage 4th gear when the engine (and therefore trans) are cold. It would be reasonable to assume that it also cuts out when one or both are overheated.

Adding credence to that is the fact it works just fine now.

 

[detox_nath83]

i find that i drive approx 5 mins before things warm up and can shift into overdrive.