Stuck in First Gear

[Wyliewoodo]

I was having an issue about a month ago where my car was starting off in 2nd gear. After reading some posts about it on here I removed the governor and sent it into dmc Houston to have it repaired. When I got it back I put it in the car and was very excited when the car accelerated in 1st for the first time while I’ve owned it, however I was quickly disappointed to find that I now only have first gear. I can’t get it to shift whether I put the car in drive or try to force it into 2nd. Any advice?

[DMC5180]

Advice, call DMCH first. They will likely walk you through the reinstallation procedures for verification that you did it properly. Including kick down cable rigging.


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[DMCMW Dave]

Take a look at your wiring and make sure you dressed it away from the crossover pipe. Melted wiring will do this sort of thing.

[David T]

It certainly could be melted wires but it can also be a shorted output transistor in the shift computer. Or a blob of solder between traces. Examine the wiring harness inch-by-inch visually and with your fingers for any damaged sections. If you don't find any damage you will have to call DMCH and have them help you with it. One quick test you can do yourself is to pull the fuse for the shift computer and see if you get 3rd gear. That will at least verify the shift computer is forcing 1st gear and there is nothing wrong with your transmission.

[Wyliewoodo]

So I emailed DMCH and they told me to check to make sure the governor speed generator was meshing with the linkage shaft into the transmission. I pulled the shaft out and it is totally worn away on one side where it meshes with the gears in the trans (hopefully there will be an image below). So I will order a new one but my question now is if this is something I should be concerned about? Why would something like this happen and is there a residing issue that I should be more concerned about? Or should I just put the new shaft in and hope it works?56624

[David T]

Did it look like that when you put the governor in or did you not check it? Certainly try a new one and see what happens.

[DMC5180]

Wow, I just looked up that part. I was surprised it was available and even more so at the cheap price. $11.48 +s&h.

Hope that fixes it for you and that you don’t have some more serious issue going on internally.


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[Wyliewoodo]

I did not check to see if it looked like that before. Seeing as the part is so cheap I’m just going to replace it and hope that I never have the issue again. If I do, well, we’ll see what happens.

[PJ Grady Inc.]

I did not check to see if it looked like that before. Seeing as the part is so cheap I’m just going to replace it and hope that I never have the issue again. If I do, well, we’ll see what happens.

You're bigger concern may be with the transaxle itself. That gear appears to have started to melt from heat buildup. This gear is usually tan not black! The only plausable source of that heat would be that the differential was run with little to no gear oil in it for some lenght of time. Do you hear any gear whine on the road? If so the internal parts of the diff may also be damaged. I would recommend changing the diff fluid and see what comes out. At least check the fluid level immediately if you haven't already done so. You might be in for an unpleasant surprise!
Rob

[PJ Grady Inc.]

So I emailed DMCH and they told me to check to make sure the governor speed generator was meshing with the linkage shaft into the transmission. I pulled the shaft out and it is totally worn away on one side where it meshes with the gears in the trans (hopefully there will be an image below). So I will order a new one but my question now is if this is something I should be concerned about? Why would something like this happen and is there a residing issue that I should be more concerned about? Or should I just put the new shaft in and hope it works?56624
I replied to this thread yesterday and there has been no response from you. By the look of that pic I'm thinking you're driving around with little to no differential fluid! It's probably way too late to make much difference but you really should check to see if you have any. From your limited but recent posts I'm also guessing you are a new owner. This forum contains good advice but it's always good to get feedback instead of a cold thread. This situation does not look good. Anyone agree? In any case I wish you good luck. You will need it.
Rob

[David T]

I replied to this thread yesterday and there has been no response from you. By the look of that pic I'm thinking you're driving around with little to no differential fluid! It's probably way too late to make much difference but you really should check to see if you have any. From your limited but recent posts I'm also guessing you are a new owner. This forum contains good advice but it's always good to get feedback instead of a cold thread. This situation does not look good. Anyone agree? In any case I wish you good luck. You will need it.
Rob

I agree with this post. Most owners, especially new ones, do not know that the final drive has it's own fluid and must be checked separately. My advice to anyone with an automatic is to go over ALL of the on-car adjustments, checks, and settings, and check everything out as soon as they can after buying the car and any time there is a problem. If you get an auto and you don't know when the fluids and filters were last changed, then it is time to do it! As for the final drive, I have seen many with essentially NO gear oil in them and they don't make a sound and seem to be OK. Not a good idea to drive that way but once you get some gear oil in there they seem to do fine. One tiny drop once a week for 30 years and eventually there is nothing to drip anymore. An old British car rule, "If it stops leaking it is time to check the fluid level"!

[Lwanmtr]

As an auto owner, I figured out that the final drive oil is separate from the transmission and wondering where is the check for the final drive oil? Its probably obvious, I just havent looked for that yet since mine is up on jack stands (for as yet a still unknown time...hehe). I know my transmission is leaking somewhere, but I figure I'll check the final drive while im tackling other things.

[iflights]

As an auto owner, I figured out that the final drive oil is separate from the transmission and wondering where is the check for the final drive oil? Its probably obvious, I just havent looked for that yet since mine is up on jack stands (for as yet a still unknown time...hehe). I know my transmission is leaking somewhere, but I figure I'll check the final drive while im tackling other things.

Up on jack stands or a lift is better. Drivers side on the final drive itself there are two plugs. Top one is fill, bottom one is drain. Open top one, stick your pinky finger in there. Gear oil is filled to the bottom of that top plug. If you feel oil inside, you're full. Don't undo the bottom drain unless you know for sure you have a way to re-fill it by getting the top one open first.

[ritztoys]

I agree with all the above posts........CHECK YOUR FINAL DRIVE fluid level!!! I assumed things were fine, until one of the spider gears shaft sheared off, due to lack of gear oil. The car was dead on the road! (many, many years ago)

This was because I had not checked my fluids and it bit me hard........new final drive.

[Jonathan]

As an auto owner, I figured out that the final drive oil is separate from the transmission and wondering where is the check for the final drive oil? Its probably obvious, I just havent looked for that yet since mine is up on jack stands (for as yet a still unknown time...hehe). I know my transmission is leaking somewhere, but I figure I'll check the final drive while im tackling other things.


Up on jack stands or a lift is better. Drivers side on the final drive itself there are two plugs. Top one is fill, bottom one is drain. Open top one, stick your pinky finger in there. Gear oil is filled to the bottom of that top plug. If you feel oil inside, you're full. Don't undo the bottom drain unless you know for sure you have a way to re-fill it by getting the top one open first.

I added a photo showing the locations here: http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?10336-Assorted-helpful-technical-photos&p=235380&viewfull=1#post235380

[Lwanmtr]

Ahh cool. Thanks for the info.

[PJ Grady Inc.]

I agree with all the above posts........CHECK YOUR FINAL DRIVE fluid level!!! I assumed things were fine, until one of the spider gears shaft sheared off, due to lack of gear oil. The car was dead on the road! (many, many years ago)

This was because I had not checked my fluids and it bit me hard........new final drive.

I'm surprised you found someone to rebuild your differential. Most shops will reach for a whole transmission. I like rebuilding final drives but they rarely go bad. This case will prove the exception.
Rob

[ritztoys]

Well Rob.....actually this happened in the late 90's and at the time I got in touch with a gentleman from Ohio, who had a whole transmission and final drive (NOS) I couldn't afford the whole assembly, so we separated the assembly in my garage and I had a new final drive(yet to be installed).

I will say this was the most intense mechanical job I have ever done to my car, removing the transmission and final drive.

I'm sure my brother-in-law heard some new cuss words from me during the replacement of this assembly back into the car. There are some places where you have to "feel" to what you're doing, no way to see up in there! :rant:

[PJ Grady Inc.]

Well Rob.....actually this happened in the late 90's and at the time I got in touch with a gentleman from Ohio, who had a whole transmission and final drive (NOS) I couldn't afford the whole assembly, so we separated the assembly in my garage and I had a new final drive(yet to be installed).

I will say this was the most intense mechanical job I have ever done to my car, removing the transmission and final drive.

I'm sure my brother-in-law heard some new cuss words from me during the replacement of this assembly back into the car. There are some places where you have to "feel" to what you're doing, no way to see up in there! :rant:

Oh no it's a fun job! I particulariy like the placement of the 13mm metal mount bolts. I've done enough of them to know what a pleasure it is indeed.
Hey whatever happened to our thread starter. Did Wyliewoodo decide to "Wing it"?
Rob