Bad to do the shifting? (1 Viewer)

[alkaline747trio]

It might just be me, but I don't like having to floor it when I need a little more power to pass or go up a steep hill, and have been shifting into 3rd and 2nd as needed. Will doing so wreck any havock on my transmission, or is this perfectly safe?

I do a good job of keeping the revs below about 3750 (slightly above where I get the most torque and ponies), and haven't noticed anything different when I'm letting it do the shifting. Just asking before I trash my tranny.

 

[Doc]

trash my tranny.

That sounds like a good porn movie...

 

[MaddBaggins]

That sounds like a good porn movie...

LOL, twisted minds think alike.

Sorry, I don't have an answer for you

 

[CJF]

It might just be me, but I don't like having to floor it when I need a little more power to pass or go up a steep hill, and have been shifting into 3rd and 2nd as needed. Will doing so wreck any havock on my transmission, or is this perfectly safe?

Perfectly safe, and pretty much unavoidable with the mighty 3FE. And of course a good idea on downgrades as well.

Have you adjusted the infamous "kickdown" cable? If not, doing so should get the shift points more to your liking.

Curtis
91FJ80

 

[MH_Stevens]

Have you adjusted the infamous "kick-down" cable? If not, doing so should get the shift points more to your liking.

Curtis
91FJ80

I use 2nd and kill the overdrive like a manual all the time. Any links to the cable tweak?

 

[alkaline747trio]

Yea, that cable tweak sounds helpful... so "link me up scotty"

 

[CJF]

Hmmm...

Don't know of a thread/link offhand. Search and ye shall see?

Here's what I do know: FSM shows how to adjust it ("it" being the cable that goes from the throttle body down to the tranny; links up to the throttle body right next to the cruise control to throttle body cable) and what the "proper" adjustment is. "Tightening" it, ie more cable out of the sleeve, produces later upshift points and easier "kickdown" shifts. Most people I know prefer it adjusted tighter than the "proper" setting. (Hey, it must stretch after a 100k or so..) AFAIK, you can't hurt anything adjusting it either direction within reason; just keep tweaking it till you're happy. I *have* heard, and noticed myself, that it can produce slight differences in the smoothness of shifts (better in my case).

This is all on a 3FE/A440F (91-92); not sure how much translates to later years.

Curtis

 

[TomH]

This thread should prove helpful.


Tom

 

[C6H12O6]

On the contrary, I would think it would be worse in some situations to let the tranny keep shifting back and forth on its own. I usually turn OD off and downshift myself if I'm worried about the RPMs on hills. I can only imagine that the truck being stuck in that no-man's land where it is right between gears causes more damage than you shifting things manually. Something about going from 2000 RPMs to 3500 RPMs and back to 2000 in a matter of seconds just makes me shudder.

 

[CJF]

This thread should prove helpful.

Not exactly relevant to this thread, since it's mostly, and lengthily, arguing about routinely downshifting your way to a stop. Excellent as always post by Rodney though (#46).

Then try this one.

Saw that one coming...

 

[DJForrestA]

I adjusted mine and it made a huge difference. Still no powerhouse but no shifting early and starting out in 2nd when not coming to a dead stop. Plus in town it will kick down earlier for merging in traffic. Easy adjustment. Took a 13mm? wrench and 1 minute. Kickdown cable is located next to the throttle cable on top of the intake. Make the cable longer. Basically push it towards the passenger fender. Adjust a ton and you can always back it off but mine took a ton of adjustment and could probably stand a little more.

 

[OZCAL]

This is a little different because it is not anticipating the transmission, but I routinely drop it into 2nd on any non-freeway descent to maintain engine braking avoid using the brakes. I don't know about any wear/tear cost/benefit analyses, but it sure feels better. A habit I learned driving manuals in Athens, where you never take a car out of second.

 

[TomH]

Not exactly relevant to this thread, since it's mostly, and lengthily, arguing about routinely downshifting your way to a stop. Excellent as always post by Rodney though (#46).

For some reason I thougt it was relevant, but then I consider up shifting and down shifting to be similar operations.

Perhaps you could explain the major differences in transmission wear as a result of up shifting at 4000 RPM versus down shifting at 4000 RPM.

Thanks
Tom

 

[CJF]

Tom,

Sorry for the cranky sounding response. I guess I was a little cranky last night.

Curtis