I was having problems with my auto not downshifting the way I think it should. Having not driven many 80 autos I couldn't say for sure the behavior was normal.
Basically if you slowed down to about 20kph (that's what 12mph?) it would stay in 3rd gear and not downshift unless you floored it, which would then cause it to downshift to 1st and you'd rocket away at full throttle.
Also is it down shift or up shift? I can never remember. You go down in gear numbers, but up in ratios - very ambiguous terms.
Anyhoo to get around the problem I did the pin 7 mod, and then disconnected the low range switch plug from the transfer and shorted it permanently causing the trans computer to run in the low range shift pattern all the time.
The results I've found are very dramatic. It runs up and down the gears the way it should. Only draw backs are you get no torque converter lock up, and the upshifting out of first doesn't happen until about 2400rpm. similarly it won't up shift out of 2nd until about 40kph. In short it holds the gears as you would expect it to in low range.
When It comes to downshifting, it does so automatically when you go under certain speeds (40kph for 2nd, 20 for 1st). This is opposed to the normal behaviour where you have to press the throttle some. This gives it the feeling that it's always in the right gear to get going when you slow down for whatever reason. It also feels like you get more engine braking.
Personally I like the new performance. It might interest some who are after a more 'manual transmission' or performance feel. It hasn't really effected economy either.
I was thinking it would be possible to install a switch that enabled you to select the low range pattern without having to do the pin 7 mod - if you wanted to. A kind of 'POWER!' button opposed to the standard 'power' mode (notice the capital letters and exclamation mark)
Basically if you slowed down to about 20kph (that's what 12mph?) it would stay in 3rd gear and not downshift unless you floored it, which would then cause it to downshift to 1st and you'd rocket away at full throttle.
Also is it down shift or up shift? I can never remember. You go down in gear numbers, but up in ratios - very ambiguous terms.
Anyhoo to get around the problem I did the pin 7 mod, and then disconnected the low range switch plug from the transfer and shorted it permanently causing the trans computer to run in the low range shift pattern all the time.
The results I've found are very dramatic. It runs up and down the gears the way it should. Only draw backs are you get no torque converter lock up, and the upshifting out of first doesn't happen until about 2400rpm. similarly it won't up shift out of 2nd until about 40kph. In short it holds the gears as you would expect it to in low range.
When It comes to downshifting, it does so automatically when you go under certain speeds (40kph for 2nd, 20 for 1st). This is opposed to the normal behaviour where you have to press the throttle some. This gives it the feeling that it's always in the right gear to get going when you slow down for whatever reason. It also feels like you get more engine braking.
Personally I like the new performance. It might interest some who are after a more 'manual transmission' or performance feel. It hasn't really effected economy either.
I was thinking it would be possible to install a switch that enabled you to select the low range pattern without having to do the pin 7 mod - if you wanted to. A kind of 'POWER!' button opposed to the standard 'power' mode (notice the capital letters and exclamation mark)