3-FE : Is this normal behaviour? (1 Viewer)

[TownsvilleBloke]

Hello,
Just wanted to be sure:
So I am cruising with my automatic gearbox and 3-FE engine in 4th gear, around 100km/h (62 mph), on the motorway. Suddenly, a steep hill is coming and even if I press the accelerator completely, my car struggles, can't make it further than 2300 rpms, and then the speed decreases progressively from 100km/h (62mph) to 65km/h (40mph), and the automatic gearbox switches to 3rd there. When I arrive at the top of the hill, my car has overheated and feels sick of this adventure.

What is happening?

My father told me it's normal, I should shift the automatic gearbox to "3" because my car is too heavy and doesn't have enough torque to make it in 4th gear at high speed.

Is this accurate, or the 80 series should be able to go through steep motorway roads in 4th gear and this behaviour is unexpected from that car?

Thanks everyone!

 

[red66toy]

Hello,
Just wanted to be sure:
So I am cruising with my automatic gearbox and 3-FE engine in 4th gear, around 100km/h (62 mph), on the motorway. Suddenly, a steep hill is coming and even if I press the accelerator completely, my car struggles, can't make it further than 2300 rpms, and then the speed decreases progressively from 100km/h (62mph) to 65km/h (40mph), and the automatic gearbox switches to 3rd there. When I arrive at the top of the hill, my car has overheated and feels sick of this adventure.

What is happening?

My father told me it's normal, I should shift the automatic gearbox to "3" because my car is too heavy and doesn't have enough torque to make it in 4th gear at high speed.

Is this accurate, or the 80 series should be able to go through steep motorway roads in 4th gear and this behaviour is unexpected from that car?

Thanks everyone!

Have you checked the kickdown cable tension? Sounds like it should have downshifted before it dropped to 40mph. The 3FE with the auto is no race car and is sluggish on steep grades for sure.

 

[TownsvilleBloke]

Have you checked the kickdown cable tension? Sounds like it should have downshifted before it dropped to 40mph. The 3FE with the auto is no race car and is sluggish on steep grades for sure.

Nah sorry, I'm not very knowledgeable about my car comparatively to other people here unfortunately. It is difficult to check the kickdown cable tension ?

 

[AussieHJCruza]

Download the FSM from the resources section and you'll find a procedure.
You've got 116kw and a vehicle that weighs at least 2200kg, it won't be fast up hills but it should kick down a gear earlier.

 

[red66toy]

Yup. The factory service manual will tell you how to adjust the cable. The cable is attached to the throttle body on the 3FE and tells the transmission how much throttle you are giving. If it’s not adjusted correctly the shifting gets all weird. So I am guessing that is your issue. The cables can go bad, replacement isn’t a big deal.