What's Wrong?
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What's Wrong?
I have an 88 Bronco with an automatic transmission. I'm having problems when it downshifts to accelarate in order to go up a hill, pass someone, etc... When it goes to downshift, the entire truck vibrates real bad and then shifts into neutral for four or five seconds. It then shifts down and accelarates. PLEASE TELL ME THIS ISN'T A SIGN OF A BAD TRANNY!!!
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From: just outside of Phila.
I have an 88 with a 302 EFI, but I have the C6, and from what you just said, the exact same symptoms, even the warm part. I've recently been wracking my brain, and the brains of all of the guys on this forum to find out what was wrong with my tranny. First, it's been hard to describe the problems, and from what little I know about this stuff, I thought it was my tranny...a few suggested the engine. I called every shop I could think of in NJ to find a reputable tranny guy. Turns out, it's my engine. We took the truck for a ride and he said it was just a lack of power in the engine, but that the tranny was still shifting firm and all. I asked him if, my eninge revved at 2650 rpm at 60mph on the highway, would it stay the same if the tranny was bad? He said no, it would be different if the tranny was slipping...I still rev at 2650 @ 60mph. Find a good mechanic, and don't stop with a first opinion. I was told $1500 to get my C6 rebuilt, then I was told, get off of the shop, save your money, it's not even your tranny. I hope the circumstances are similar for you, I'm checking the engine today.
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From: MA
It kind of sounds like your torque convertor is on its way out, just by the fact that it is locking, then unlocking. Have you checked for codes? I had a similar problem. The tranny in my 96 would intermittently lock and unlock around 40mph. It turns out I had a sensor going on the tranny, and once that was replaced, it shifted fine again. Have you noticed any strange sounds, or just vibrations, followed by the lock/unlock?
Rich
Rich
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No strange sounds. It does, however, take around a dozen cranks to get it started. I don't know if there is a correlation here. These two problems started around the same time (maybe simultaneously, I don't remember).
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From: just outside of Phila.
have you done anything to the engine recently? Anything to the wires, distributer, rotor or something that would affect timing. There's a ton of things you can do to the engine for cheap or free. I'm also having a problem with starting, give the engine a few once overs before you start shelling out big $$$$$.
Last edited by jdmorg; Jul 25, 2004 at 11:02 PM.
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Posting Guru
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From: just outside of Phila.
Did you do all of the cap and rotor work yourself? I just changed my plugs, wires, cap and rotor and thats when it started to happen. I know for a fact that I took off the wires one at a time, so as to not get them crossed...it wasn't going to be possible. I thought I was completely covered, it was an easy job, and in 15 minutes would have a truck running like new. Well, I missed something somewhere. I don't know what or where, but tracing my footsteps and getting the tranny checked out by an honest tranny mechanic, I'm starting to think that something I did with the wires, cap and rotor was wrong. And just for good measure, I changed my oil too.
I'd make sure to look over these things. I wanted to go out and blast the transmission into the ground when I strarted to think that was the problem, especially after they told me it was a $1500 problem (robbers). It's a good thing I got a second opinion, now I'm calmer, still have a tranny, and still have my $1500. (I HAVE $1500!?!?!...oh that's right, no I don't)
I'd make sure to look over these things. I wanted to go out and blast the transmission into the ground when I strarted to think that was the problem, especially after they told me it was a $1500 problem (robbers). It's a good thing I got a second opinion, now I'm calmer, still have a tranny, and still have my $1500. (I HAVE $1500!?!?!...oh that's right, no I don't)
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Bend,OR
get your codes pulled first, most any autoparts store would do this for free. then come back and let us know whats up. also a brief description of your rig helps .what tranny, tiresize, mileage things like that.
later
later