mechman12867

Hey Guys:

I could use some advice or a link to some pertinent articles/threads if anyone has any information concerning the following:

I recently changed the fluid and filter of my 1990 RX7 Convertible Automatic Transmission. Say, 3 weeks ago. I am now experiencing...........

1) All Gears are able to be accessed with the Shift Lever, and car goes into all Gears (P, R, N, D, S, L)

2) Shift Indicator on Dash only shows "N", even when car is in Park.

3) While running and driving, the car starts off fine while depressing the accelerator for a second or so........then shifts into high gear. It takes forever to wind up and get going. Seems to reset itself at every stop light. This is a new problem, so for about 1-3 seconds when a first start off from a stop, I think the car is fixed.........then.......here we go again!!!!!!!!!!

I have stopped driving the car, as it is a little dangerous not to have the get up and go to compete with a bicycle..........

I have checked the Vacuum Line that is attached to the side of the Transmission (Drivers Side......on Tail of Transmission, a bit in front of Speedo Cable) ....wiggled it around a bit to make sure it was snug.....and pushed it back on to make sure it was tight. ( Might I need to remove this, silicone it to make sure it is sealed and slide it back on?) It seemed that it was affixed properly when I first took a look at it. I also tightened the speedometer cable cover at the Transmission as it seemed loose. Not really sure if that is the right Component name for what I tightened......sort of a thimble thing that went around the cable.....with a hex on one end...and knurled round on the other......it was leaking a bit of fluid.....so I gave it a quick turn.

Anywhey...........If anyone out there has any imput as to what I might be experiencing, I would surely appreciate any help or advice.........

and by the way guys......I know I ought to just yank the damn thing out and put the 5 Speed in.....but she is a daily driver, and I don't have the parts setting in my garage........plus I feel kinda lame having my Wife shuttle me back and forth to work.......LOL. Waiting on a ride sucks.......even if some good lookin chick is coming to get you......I just need to get it fixed quickly, so that I can access my options.........however, after reading through a lot of posts.....the 5 SPD sounds like the way to go.

Thanks for any help in advance!

1SxyRXy

make sure you have the proper fluid level like ur torque converter is full and stuff or pull the cover back off and check inside the tranny and make sure you didnt disconnect a electric plug inside there if it has any. also if you disconected the battery i belive it needs to relearn your driving habits.

slpin

iTrader: (9)

if you live closer, i would sell you my perfectly fine auto for 50.... sucks for you!

Tournapart

iTrader: (4)

i use a 5sp as a daily driver and im happier, used to have a 91 accord auto

trainwreck517

iTrader: (1)

Sounds like you low on tranny fluid, or you used the wrong type. So check level, and make sure that you used the right oil for that particular tranny.

'85GSL-SE

iTrader: (2)

Hi,

I used to have that problem all the time with my 4 Speed Auto I bought from a guy south of me. The transmission slipped like crazy from 1st to second. I would press on the gass it might take a second or two to grab and semi go. I replaced the fluid in mine and so on but to no avail.

This is what I did:

1) Took it to a transmission shop and took a mechanic for a test drive. He said my bands were slipping and everything else.

2) I took it back about 8 months later and asked them to rebuild my transmission. I asked how could it be rebuilt stronger and shift firmer than original while still retaining its daily drivability. The guy tells me he can hit 2 birds with one stone. Install a shift kit into the auto. I bought a B&M Stage 2 shift kit for my Automatic threw the tranny shop. I got it back 3 days later and OH MAN!

I dumped my 5 speed '90 GTU for my '85 GSL Auto. She shifts like a bat out of hell. going from 1st to second she will flat out lay you back in the seat! Though she may be a tad bit slugish on take off because she can't rev as high as a manual so she playes catch up with her shifting. It will take her about .5 of a second to shift each gear. when you punch it, it is even faster than that. I will see if I can make a sound clip for you guys of it when she shifts, it is freaking sweet! Not only that I have picked up acceleration and top end power. She normaly with the old stock tranny maxed out at 105 Mp/h. Now she can get it on up to 128 Mp/h without any problems. So I say if you have an Auto Transmission RX-7 be proud of it and don't hide her in a closet. I would put mine out front everyday! She sleeps bone stock until you anger her then wham bam thank you mam and she is gone! Hell she can get up to speed about as fast as my N/A '90 RX-7 a little slower but she can hang out at my '90's rear bumper and my '90 has a 190 HP modded engine. She can move with the medium sized dogs now on her stock engine that only puts out 94 RWHP. Soon to be upgraded to a JDM 12AT with low compression Rotors I think 8.4:1 if I can get the funds up.

If you live near by me I might be able to take you for a test run if you would like. You will be surprised as I was.

With pride,

-Dan

mechman12867

Fluid levels are nominal...........and I used the right fluid. That was one of the first things I checked. Also......pan is good and tight and i have no leaks to speak of. I had a small drip from the speedo cable, as I said.....but this was fixed. I believe I have an electronic problem with all of the symptoms I see.........but am not familar enough with these cars to know where it might be coming from.

trochoid

iTrader: (6)

I'm not all that experienced with auto trannys, I usually just had them rebuilt when I had trouble with them. If it is not shifting properly it is usually limited to a few sources. The modulator valve, which is what that vacuum line is hooked up to, the bands are loose, and not all autos have adjustable ones, the seals are shrinking, and the fluid is old or low.

The gear indicator is more likely a linkage problem and not necessarily related to the shifting problem, but I wouldn't count it out.

I would start with a new modulator vavle and concider adding TransX to the tranny fluid. If neither of those help, it may be time for a rebuild.

mechman12867

I had not experienced any shifting problems or slipping of the Transmission whatsoever. This problem just manifested itself one morning and I have not been able to figure it out. I am going to consult a few more sources this weekend and will be calling the local Mazda Dealership tomorrow to see if their is anyone in the Service Department that remebers working on these cars.

trochoid

iTrader: (6)

You will probably get a better price at a tranny shop. They call it the stealership for a good reason.

mechman12867

I agree.......i just want to pick someones brain at the Dealership if they'll talk to me. I am sure that there is a simple explanation for what has happened. I just need to uncover it.

jhammons01

http://www.cochran-racing.com/FSM/s5...ansmission.pdf

Go straight to that link and trouble shoot your tranny per the FSM.

Then go to www.txchange.com and buy the shift kit for your tranny. I didn't do this yet but shift kits always worked for me in the past. Also......its just a Ford tranny. No black magic. txchange seems to have some pretty good ideas on how to make Auto's work.

Mura

Yea, don't call up Mazda. I called them up just to get a quote on flushing and filling my tranny fluid....$131.98 Lets not even talk about getting the "Hold" button fixed. I never knew the tranny was a Ford tranny. How did you find out that it was a Ford tranny jhamm? I think I'll call around tomorrow to see how much it would cost to get my tranny overhauled.

jhammons01

The part numbers are the same.......lotsa ford stuff on your 7

oh, I may be wrong on that one. It's been a while since I looked. things like the following start rumers like that (Icemark is gonna spank me for it)

SK® G4A

MAZDA
G4AEL; G4AHL
Ford 4EAT-A
1986-93

-and-

SK® F4A-EL
Ford 4EAT-F
MAZDA F4A-EL
Escort, Tracer, 323

-and-

LA4A-EL (Ford CD4E)
1995-up
Protege, Contour, Mystique with CD4E (LA4A-EL) trans

-and finally ours-

SK® N4AEL

929 & RX7
1988-90
Corrects/Prevents/Reduces:
1-2 slide; spin up 2-3; 3-2 cut loose; mushy 4th;
soft lockup; soft shifts.

Mura

Since it only goes up to 90, and I have a 91, would it still work, or what ever? Like I said in my last post, I think I'll call around to get a price quote on getting an overhaul, then see how much the additional cost would be for a shift kit. This is very interesting. What did it mean by "soft lockup?"

mechman12867

Wow What a find! Thank you VERY much for the Service Manual Link! I am going to print it off at work and take a look at it during lunch. I'll let you all know what I think the problem might be and see if I can fix the problem over the weekend. I'll keep everyone posted. Maybe "MOM" won't have to drive me to work on Monday..........LOL.....I swear that's what it feels like. My Wife has been real good about it and it is kind of enjoyable to cart around together.......but I'd rather have my car running again........

Icemark

Actually the small Ford Trannies are built by Mazda (as are most of the 2.0 (and under) 4 cyl engines).

jhammons01

WWHHEEEOOOO *wipes sweat off brow* Avoided the trip to the shed out back. Thanks Icemark

jhammons01

I wouldnot venture a guess as to why Mazda would switch trannys from 90 ot 91. Call that company and talk to those guys about shifting concerns. They will be happy to tell you.

Doesn't your tranny shift real slow??? Have you ever been giving it a little gas to increase speed just a little and the tranny up shifts and the RPMs shoot up to 7k then it shifts back into the same gear it came from then it shifts again into the gear it should've gone to in the first place???

3rd, shift 1st RPMS shoot way up, shifts back to third, then immediatley shifts into 2nd.

mechman12867

OK.....Welll no success so far. I am continuing to try and isolate the problem, but have not pinpointed it yet. Again, any suggestions would be appreciated. I will continue to work on my end.

Mura

jhamms: yea it shifts slow. The only way i can get it to shift fast(since I've been driving the car alot and know what rpms it shifts at)is by letting off the gas at 3500 to 4000rpms everytime. When going full out, I let off the gas to in order for it to change to the next gear at about 4000 to 4500, then back on the gas again. Other than that, it shifts slow. I'm glad you brought up the 7k rpms deal.

It won't shoot up to 7k rpms, but it will shoot up when I really don't want it to, thus, making me let off the gas in order for it to shift back into the same gear as you said, so yes. For example, I could be in third, then give it a little more gas, then boom, 4th gear kicks in, I let off the gas, back to third. The only time my tranny up shifts and shoots up to almost 7k rpms, is when my "Hold" aka Traction Control goes away after hitting over 20mphs. The tranny will slip, thus causing my revs to shoot quickly, to which I have to quickly let off the gas so that it can get in gear....price for fixing the TC131 or 132+labor. A little more on my Hold light, it works when I'm in park and when i'm driving under 20mph, after 20mph, it blinks on and off, thus I no longer have a traction control alllllll day long till I turn it off.
As for this sentence "3rd, shift 1st rpms......."....I don't think that has happened to me.

Tournapart

iTrader: (4)

Poo

VWMattu

I had an automatic '91 vert that I autocrossed. I went thru 2 rebuilds before throwing a 5 speed in (PM me if you want help with that). The hold button on your shift lever actually holds the transmission from going to the next gear. If you have the hold button with the trans in L, it will stay in 1st, if you have the hold button in with the trans in S it will stay in 2nd, and the hold button with D, it stays in 3rd. It's not traction control, it just holds the transmission in the lower gear.

Also, there is an elecrical connector on the trans. There should be 2 parts to it, one is the hold button and light, the 2nd is for the light on the dash reading PRNDLS.

It's easier then you think to go from auto to 5 speed. I was spending 2k, 2.5k on rebuilds and went to a 5 speed for under 1k. The holes are already there. You have a tach already, just shorten the drive shaft, use the counter weight that you have with the automatic, get a new clutch and some pedals and the tranny from a junk yard and whala..instant 5 speed. They're much more rugged then the automatic...and more fun to drive.

Matt

jhammons01

Edit: ^^^^Damn, you beat me to it^^^^^

The "hold" button is not traction control. That is so the car stays in the gear that you place the shifter in. For instance if you want the car to stay in 2nd then you put the gear shift in 2nd and depress the hold button and the tranny will stay right there. otherwise the tranny will shift however it wants to, no matter where the gear shift is (in the drive choices)Traction control term may be used for winter situations and you can push the hold button and start off in a low gear reducing the amount of torque to the rear wheels and keeping them from spinning. You can use the hold button if you want to push your car past the redline or if you are running a little fast adn you don't want your car to shift cause there is another turn coming up and you want to be in the right gear at the apex.

You are really short shifting your motor if you are letting off the gas at 4k. That car isn't happy until it reaches 4k!!!! Let that thing go, it will shift around 6000-6200rpms and then it will only drop to 3800 rpms when it shifts, unless you floor it in which case the rpms will climb to 7k. I know that it seems high coming from any other car and you feel that you are abusing yoru motor by running it too hard, but trust me and the others on this board. That motor loves to rev high, and it's not bad for it.

And just for discussion sake. When you are in 3rd.....just driving easy. Then you punch it, the tranny will shift into a passing gear. Is that lower or higher??? If you give it gas and it is shifting into "4th" then something really bad is happening. It should shift into 2nd or first and the RPMs shoot way up. Please describe your situation or chain of events again.

Mura

Really? I always thought it was Traction Control. Wow, did not know that. As for the passing gear, I'm assuming you mean just like a manual, when you're in 5th gear and you want to punch it, you drop it back to 4th and instant power. If that's the case, then yes, it'll drop into 2nd and rev up to about 5k then back to 3rd. I was under the impression that once I give it gas, it'll shift to 4th for power....Isn't 4th suppose to be overdrive? Isn't that suppose to give you more power?

And it's true, I was in thinking that by letting my car rev up to 5k and over is abusing my motor. I don't want something to break on it, so I just let it rev between 3500 - 4k rpms. But if you say I should le it go, then well...I'll let it go. sorry for the confusion, though.

As for going 5 speed, that's 1k that I don't have currently. Not only that, I don't have the tools or garage to do it. I can always sell the car for a little or more over 2G's and save up a little more for a 5 speed, but at the sametime, I have to have a car to get to school. The Hold button connector under the trans, can this be fixed by you doing it yourself? I wouldn't mind going 5speed, but currently, I'm only making between 350 to 400+ every 2 weeks. Add that with 2 bills and I'm already out $200. Feel my pain?