440T4 Question??

[Regal_GS_1989]

My 1st to 2nd shift has always been a little bit on the slow side on my GS, and it is definatley slower than my 88. Is this the sign of the vacuum modulator on it's way out?? If so, where is the vacuum modulator located on the tranny itself??

[THe_DeTAiL3R]

Could be a vacuum leak...

 

If you take the airbox out you will see where the vacuum line goes into the engine/trans which is the modulator. Try unplugging the line from there and plugging it with a nail or something. It SHOULD shift real hard with the line plugged. Don't do this for a long time though cause it's hard on the tranny.

[Regal_GS_1989]

Could be a vacuum leak...

 

If you take the airbox out you will see where the vacuum line goes into the engine/trans which is the modulator. Try unplugging the line from there and plugging it with a nail or something. It SHOULD shift real hard with the line plugged. Don't do this for a long time though cause it's hard on the tranny.

BINGO!!! Thanks a lot, I don't know how hard these trannys can shift, but it was pretty hard with the line plugged up. It has been on the slow side ever since i bought it, but it would also slip in reverse if you needed any kind of torque, and that also dissapeared with the line plugged. Looks like i know what i will be doing sometime this week

[Brian P]

yes easiest fix would be putting in a vacuum modulator w/ adjustment to reduce vacuum going into it. More involved, likely the 1-2 accumulator spring is broken causing a soft shift. I've had 2 440-t4's that when I took the accululator cover off, that weak spring was in 2 pieces. After replacing them with stiffer ones from say, a '91+ 4T60, it shifted great.

[Regal_GS_1989]

yes easiest fix would be putting in a vacuum modulator w/ adjustment to reduce vacuum going into it. More involved, likely the 1-2 accumulator spring is broken causing a soft shift. I've had 2 440-t4's that when I took the accululator cover off, that weak spring was in 2 pieces. After replacing them with stiffer ones from say, a '91+ 4T60, it shifted great.

Where is the acuumulator located on the tranny?? I will also take a look at that this weekend. The shifting has never bothered me before, but now i am using the car in the city everyday, and i want to correct it before it wears out my tranny.

[GP1138]

Where is the acuumulator located on the tranny??

 

Inside the transmission valve body, I believe.

[Brian P]

the 1-2 and 3-4 accumulators are accessable after removing the bottom pan, believe it or not. It's a plate with 2 "bumps" on it, and has a couple of steel lines going to another small plate. I wouldn't say just go ahead and do it. It IS fairly simple but can be tricky (working upside down for one, then you have to reassemble everything and keep the pistons in the bore of the trans case [upside down, mind you]) then the gaskets are tough to get sometimes, so if one tears, the car may be laid up for a bit. BTW the 60E, the whole unit can be removed and messed with on a work bench.

[Regal_GS_1989]

the 1-2 and 3-4 accumulators are accessable after removing the bottom pan, believe it or not. It's a plate with 2 "bumps" on it, and has a couple of steel lines going to another small plate. I wouldn't say just go ahead and do it. It IS fairly simple but can be tricky (working upside down for one, then you have to reassemble everything and keep the pistons in the bore of the trans case [upside down, mind you]) then the gaskets are tough to get sometimes, so if one tears, the car may be laid up for a bit. BTW the 60E, the whole unit can be removed and messed with on a work bench.

thanks a lot! I figured that they would be inside the pan, i was just hoping that they weren't. I worked at a tranny shop all summer, but just pulling them out, and doing fluid services, so i know how tricky some of them can be to work on. I will probably only be driving the car for about another month or so, so i may just wait until next season when i have more money to fix it, and get it done all at once. Like i said, It has been doing this for as long as i have owned the car, so i am sorta used to it, but i want to keep the tranny alive for as long as i can.