Auto Trannies

[86Wagon]

Hello All!

I was wondering if anyone knows what controls part throttle
down shifts in an 86 Max auto tranny?

My car does okay from a stand still, but after I turn a corner
or let off the throttle in traffic and step back down on the
accelerator, it doesn't down shift to pick up speed.

I have to push the accelerator 4/5 of the way down and then it
kicks into passing gear, engine revs loudly and takes off.

I have driven a 90 Max and now a 93 Max... neither of the
newer Maxs do this... they downshift and accelerate normally.

I know the engines are the same from my 86 Max up to the 94 Max
save the fuel injection and a few sensors, but are the trannies
the same as well?

If not, what changed?

Is there something wrong with my car that it doesn't downshift
with light accelerator pressure?

I don't know...

Thanks!
Scott

[Charles Bisel]

Yeah, these automatic transmissions in our cars are basically sh*t. Not only do you have to put up with the performance loss, but they fail very quickly (not that there's anything wrong with your tranny).

Mine does the same thing, you have to punch it to get it to downshift. I believe the 3rd gen+ are computer controlled. If you put it in power mode it shifts at higher RPM's and downshifts with less effort. My '90 Eagle Talon Tsi had the same feature. When you put it in economy mode, it shifts at lower RPM's and is much more smooth and takes more pedal effort to get it to downshift.

Well, the only thing that I can recommend is adding some performance upgrades to your engine. The extra power might coerce the transmission to downshift with less effort. I noticed that it took less effort to get the car to shift after I installed my Pacesetter catback exhaust. Also, you can install a shift kit, but that makes the shifts harder and quicker, I doubt that it'll make it downshift with less pedal effort.

The best option would be to go with a Level 10 transmission rebuild, but that'll cost around $4K, more than the car's worth. Your transmission will then be computer controlled and you'll be able to adjust exactly when each shift should take place.

-C-