Mike, I don't think the transmission will kick down if it will take the
engine RPMs to more than about 4600.

John Lauterbach
Macon, GA
'84 7-passenger with automatic transmission

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike D." <md03@XOCHI.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2004 4:54 PM
Subject: Automtatic Tranny Kickdown

> How is the automatic transmission kickdown supposed to function in an 85?
>
> My westy will only kickdown to a lower gear when I push the
> accelerator all the way to the floor, and then press even harder, and
> even then it's not reliable..  It seems to be more likely to kick
> down when cold than warm.  Sometimes it seems that if I back off the
> throttle a bit, and THEN stab it really hard, it will finally kick
> down.
>
> I've tried adjusting the throttle cable as per bently but I'm not
> sure it's making much difference, and it seems like I'm approaching
> the end of the adjuster screw.
>
> The temperature thing is weird :  could it be that the cable is just
> a little longer when the van is warm and that prevents the kickdown
> from operating?
>
> Is there an RPM over which the tranny will not kick down?    I seem
> to often get "stuck" at around 2800-3000 rpm in 3rd gear and no
> matter of stomping on the accelerator will make it drop to 2nd (which
> would put the RPMs around 4000-4500).
>
> Any other things that would prevent kickdown?  Vacuum?  Ambient air
> temperature?
>
> Is proper adjustment to have the kickdown happen at the beginning of
> the stiffer spring travel in the accelerator pedal travel or at the
> very end?
>
> Is the kickdown lever all or nothing, or is there a range of kickdown?