So,

 

I'm having a weird problem with my 1984 turbo wagon.

 

When I put the car into drive it will go through the first gear, but not into the second gear which limits my speed to about 20 mph.

 

I can put the car into 1 and it will drive fine and also into 2.

 

But, when the car is in drive and the rpms get high (around 20 mph like I said before) I can put it into 2 and it will be okay until the top of that gear (which is about 35 mph)

 

 

So, 1 and 2 are fine. "D" only will not engage into the second or third gears.

 

Fluid level is fine, there's no leaks...

 

So, that means the tranny is/going bad? Isn't there some type of vacuum unit on the tranny I can check? What about the torque converter?

 

Thanks,

 

b84w

It sounds like a problem with the governor. Do a search and and you should get some info on it.

Try this out http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/USRM2/Transmission/Governor/ATgovenorclean.htm

Hmmm, I'll do that tomorrow AM when it's light out. Hope it fixes the problem.

Yup, sounds like your tranny governor is on its way out. Try cleaning it up and reinstalling it. If that doesn't fix your problem, then its time to look for a new one.

Heh...A new one huh?

 

And this is one of those uber elusive parts like chrome Brat bed trim isn't it?

The very same kind of rare, maybe more so because most of the used ones are bad already. When I got my wagon it had almost the same problem, but mine wouldn't shift into 3rd, so the fastest I could go was 45. I just dropped in a D/R 5 speed and called it good.

Yeah...I want a dual range...But, for now I'd like to just clean up the governor and hope it helps.

Do you have problems with PARK? Does it still roll?

Oh yeah dude...Park, neutral, everything is fine, in D it just won't shift automatically into the 2nd or 3rd gear.

I asked because it could have been your High/Reverse bands. I had this same problem in my 1983 GL with 3at. It turned out to be the governor housing was loose and leaking ATF...it couldn't pressurize for the high gear.

Yeah...I want a dual range...But, for now I'd like to just clean up the governor and hope it helps.

 

Cleaning it seems to be a temporary solution. I'd start looking for an EA82 4EAT and convert to that or start talking to Jerry about the 5 speed conversion kit.

When you take it out to clean, and the gear is "apple-cored", even a replacement will be temp. The problem is in the front diff with the gear that drives the gov. You will be looking for another tranny for a permanent fix.

So,

 

Who's got a tranny and a few hours to help me?

 

I don't have time to mess with it today, so I'm going to just leave it and try to work on it this weekend.

w00t!

 

Got it fixed, it was the governor. I pulled it out and did my best to clean and deburr it. Everything is all good now.

 

Thanks guys,

 

b84w

Good deal. So it wasnt cored out I take it?

Nope, which is cool.