I have an aftermarket VB and was wondering something.

Tonight I noticed at certain points under very light throttle I noticed my 1-2 shift was not nice and hard. It shifted at the exact point, without slipping, but it felt like a shudder. Sort of like a vibration. 2-3 is fine, lockup getting out of lockup all fine. And then the 1-2 shift occassionally would be nice and crisp and hard. But it does feel like its occassionally shuddering, like it'll shift nice and hard but I feel a vibration. Could this be related to fluid viscosity?

 

imo don't shift it. computer knows best..

it could be, but as long ur fluid is nice and red, right amount it should be okay. if its dark something is wrong, but vibrations/shudders are hard to depict in words.

i get sensitive sometimes too and it feels wierd as it shifts, but i just let it go and i know my fluid is nice ang red and its smoothe..

 

Yeah I really think it has to do with the viscosity of the fluid, and fluid temp. I mean its shifting nice and hard, no slipping, upshifting, downshifting, locking up, getting out of lock up just fine.

As far as the shudder goes let me put it this way assume you drop a ball, if the ball bounces right back up thats what I would consider a smooth, crisp shift. If the ball hits the floor more than once, instead of just bouncing right back up I would consider that shuddering.

My exhaust is a little loose towards the back, and I hear it rattle a little more than usual when I assume it's shuddering. And again this is all at very partial throttle. Sometimes it'll be nice and crisp, but other times it will feel crisp but I feel like its not a gradual smooth transition.

 

Any other input?

 

shift solenoids are starting to go.

get a 5spd :-D

 

How's ur engine idle? plugs, throttle body clean?, air filter?

I'm guessing it it just natural. Make sure you have the correct amount, never over fill ATF or it'll kill ilt. I'll admit, cking the ATF is a pain as the process is just stupid. !!

 

Shift solenoids were just replaced.

Yesterday driving around it felt absolutely normal. I'm starting to think it's all in my mind. It always shifts in the correct gear, downshifts, upshifts just fine. I think depending on the throttle my 1-2 shift is a little harsh. But that's ofcourse because I have an aftermarket calibrated valve body that's supposed to shift hard. Like the shift points are always on par is what I'm trying to say.

What are some other signs of bad shift solenoids?

 

Crappy shifting like the ones you're describing.

 

You know I don't think it is crappy shifting, because 99% of the time the shifts are crisp. I think it has to do with how much thorttle I'm giving and what not, I think it's the vibration of the car from the harsh upgraded VB shifts that's inclining me to think the actual shifts themselves are hard. Plus I'm sure I'd throw codes if the solenoids were bad.

 

The only issue with my auto is a delay going into first gear from park. Is that a solenoid issue? It shifts nice and smooth in all gears with no slipping.

 

I don't notice any delay, but depending on car tempature the shift from R to D or from P to R or P to D is a little harsh, but that's because my idle is like 900 and I have a high stall TC, with an upgraded VB. My only guess would be the TC is causing the delay.

 

There's only one explanation then:

It's all in your head.

Enjoy your car.

 

Yeah I'm going to go home and drive it again.

My exhaust is loose in the back, hit a small pothole etc anything and it rattles, it hits the body. The VB shifts really hard so I'm obviously hearing the exhaust rattle a bit more than usual. But I will presume I'm okay, if the shifts are on point without slippage, and without any codes.

 

One question though:

I have a real hard time reading the dipstick what is the IDEAL fluid level as would be indicated on the dipstick?

How would I determine if the fluid level is too high/low?

I know stupid question but trust me, the dipstick SUCKS.