When I shift into Drive or Reverse from Park, it goes into gear kind of harsh. I took it to the transmission shop and they told me It needed the engine mounts replaced. So I had that done, but it doesn't seem to have made a difference. Does anyone have any ideas? Is it possible the rough shift is just normal?

Thanks in advance,
Sean

Does the car idle higher than normal? Is the transmission fluid clean, and is it full?

There are a few different causes for this symptom... Once we have a little more info, it will be easier to tell-

Andrew

Thanks for the response. The transmission fluid is full and looks pretty clean. It could probably uses a change since it hasn't been done in a few years. But have only put about 15000km on the car in that time.

The idle does seem to be on the high side especially when cold. Could a high idle be the cause? How could I check the idle speed? I have looked for tachs in the past, but havent been able to find one. My timing light doesn't show rpm. Thanks.

DId they replace the engine and trans mounts? you just mentioned the engine mounts which still leaves the trans mounts suspect

Nothing to do with his problem.

A broken trans mount (there is only one) would exhibit different symptoms.

Norm

Left mount? Possible cause. Unlikely, but possible, if the engine idle was very high, and the mount was broken.

Right mount? Not possible.

Did they return the old parts to you? Broken mounts would be in two pieces. If they are still serviceable, one piece.

If the problem is not in the trans, an improper tune up, is the probable cause.

Assuming your trans shop is competent, they will have eliminated the TV cable and modulator.

Norm

I was told the transmission mount was fine. I saw the broken left mount before they replaced it and they replaced the right one as well.



I'm having my doubts.

Fast idle is part of the choke system and should go away with a tap on the gas pedal. You could experience an abnormal shift while it is still engaged, but should not, at normal idle.


Could be part of it. It is normally checked, as part of a normal tune up.


If I was starting over, I would be looking at something like this.


No problem yet.

Road test is usually performed after the repair. If it did not show any improvement, at that time, what was the explanation?


Nothing wrong with a second opinion, from another shop.

Norm

Okay, bought a tach yesterday and gave my carb a slight adjustment. After doing so, I noticed that the (cam follower???,little motor conected to a bolt that pushes against the throttle arm) was holding the idle higher than normal. So I adjusted that, and my car seems to be shifting smoothly again. Hopefully, that is the end of that...guess I got a needed engine mount replacement out of the whole thing.

Thanks for all your help!

Got another problem though...

Your transmissions shifts are controlled by a vacuum modulator, that uses engine vacuum to give the transmission a pulse to shift. If this is not working correctly, the transmission may shift erratically, as you describe.

It could also be the TV cable, which controls the transmission "kicking down". This cable runs from the carb linkage down to the transmission.

I just realized that Norm already mentioned that both of these would have been eliminated by a competent shop- I would take the advice of getting a second opinion-

Andrew

Note my references to a "tuneup".


Was that advise in another TOC thread? There was a similar thread recently, but I couldn't find it. Don't know if it was you, but if it was, there might be some helpful information in it.

You have two (if not three) other live threads going at this time. There is a good possibility they are all directly related to the following:

http://www.oldsconnection.com/forum/vie ... 2582#22582

We need to deal with the state of tune before proceeding here.

Norm