Car AND Eagle noob - Rescued 1985 Wagon

[mutatedjellyfish]

I didn't have too much time to mess with it this morning, but it shifted into park/reverse/neutral etc just fine.  I still need to try it at speed in2wd mode.  I want to say it got better the longer I drove it, and it's been below freezing here pretty regularly. I'm not sure if temperature can affect such things.

[mutatedjellyfish]

So tonight I drove it for more than 5 minutes at a time and once it had been running and going for ~10 minutes or so, the shifting smoothed out significantly.  Hopefully it's just the freezing weather and the fact that the most I've been driving it lately is in 5 minute bursts to the bus stop and back.

[maddog]

one thing that seems to help with the automatic transmissions is to start them in neutral and let it warm up that way.

[mutatedjellyfish]

Thanks for the suggestions! It's been shifting just fine after warming up a bit. I'm gonna take it in sometime and get as many fluids flushed and replaced as possible just to wipe the slate clean on that front.  Drove it ~30 miles today to work (instead of taking the bus like usual) and it did wonderfully!

[eagleman]

Sounds to me like a trans filter and fluid change is in order. Believe once done you will see and feel a huge difference in how the trans preforms. But good luck on getting the trans pan to seal properly.

[mutatedjellyfish]

Hey! I'm selling some repair manuals over here: http://forums.amceaglenest.com/index.php?topic=40879.0

MR 251 vol 1&2 and MR 254.

[captspillane]

one thing that seems to help with the automatic transmissions is to start them in neutral and let it warm up that way.

This is completely true.

In neutral your torqueflite transmissions fully charge the torque converter. In Park the torque converter is allowed to drain down somewhat, so the resistance on the motor is slightly less. With slightly more resistance and slightly higher internal pressures the trans will warm up faster.

The bigger difference is really that if you slam it into drive from Park the torque converter sometimes lags and does not top off instantly, causing a slow start initially. The shifts are very soft and slow until the pressure catches up. This is especially true of worn or aged transmissions. The torque converter fluid level is also the reason (besides manually limiting the up-shift RPMs) you'll sometimes see a difference between starting in "1" versus "D".

Ever notice that you're supposed to, according to the service manuals, have your car in "Drive" stopped by the emergency brake when accurately checking the fluid level? I always check mine with it running in "Park," but that's not totally accurate. If the engine isn't running the fluid level will look much higher than it actually is because the torque converter is allowed to drain down fully. With the engine running  the torque converter is filling at the same time its draining, so it stays high enough to check with the dipstick.

[captspillane]

Ok, new one: It's an automatic and the rpms rev up just before shifting.  It happens most in the 20-35mph range.  I'll go to accelerate and it will accelerate normal, then rev, then shift, then drive normal.

Make sure you check your kickdown linkage. The kickdown linkage connects your throttle to your transmission. When you push the gas pedal it should push a link on the transmission to let it know to downshift. If that's loose your transmission gets very confused.

I've seen several horribly adjusted. Adjust it so that it just comes snug at idle and starts to move as soon as the throttle starts to move.

I've also seen some missing a return spring. The return spring usually is at top near the throttle cable but some are down lower. The return spring must be there or the kickdown will float around as you drive and the transmission will shift for no reason.

[mutatedjellyfish]

Welp, the shifting thing was getting a bit worse, so I took it in to get looked at and the shop is saying that the tranny is shot.  Suddenly my good deal on an awesome car is significantly less so.  

$1200 for a local guy to rebuild it. Daaaamn, I only bought the car for $1800...

[dkoug]

Transmission shops can be shady, second opinion from a recommended shop should be considered.

[El Matador]

Transmission shops can be shady, second opinion from a recommended shop should be considered.

Agreed, some tranny places can be shifty (no pun intended), so get another quote if a second option is available.  There's nothing exotic about the Eagle transmission.  It's just a three speed Chrysler Torqueflite, and how many millions of those were made over the years?

[mutatedjellyfish]

Another place in town quoted $1500, heh.

[rollguy]

I say rebuild it yourself.  It is the easiest trans on the planet to rebuild.  A complete rebuild kit is around $100 (not including hard parts). 

[mutatedjellyfish]

To be honest, with these prices, I'm kind of considering it.  Then again, I'm a car novice, so it scares the heck out of me.

[carnuck]

Get a 727 from an '80 or newer Grand Wagoneer. It's the big brother to your current trans and they go for $100-$250 because they don't burn out as often (clogged cooler in the rad kills most mopar trans)