th400 woes

[tomseviltwin]

Ok, I wish I was smarter about this stuff. The th400 behind my 1990 2wd Suburban feels like it is searching for a lower gear. It doesn't seem to be slipping but the engine revs as it downshifts for no reason. Also seems to be "tripping" into a higher gear. when it shifts into 3rd. Is there any easy fix to pursue or is the tranny just giving out. I just bought the Burb a week ago.

 

[goldwing2000]

Check the downshift switch and the vacuum line. Those are always likely candidates.

 

[Ryan B.]

tripping into higher gear? just third? what do you mean.. like a flare in the shift, kind of a double shift where you can feel it slip and then finally engage?

 

[tomseviltwin]

tripping into higher gear? just third? what do you mean.. like a flare in the shift, kind of a double shift where you can feel it slip and then finally engage?

It's like it holds on to 2nd gear too long and then kind of clunks into drive. I've replaced alot of vacume line on this truck already. I'll look into the Modulator line? Is that the only thing that "kicks down?"

 

[tomseviltwin]

Check the downshift switch and the vacuum line. Those are always likely candidates.

Is the downshift switch on the TBI intake somewhere? I'm thinking there's some kind of vacume problem as it isn't always acting up.

 

[fatbob]

I'm working on the same problem on my 88. It wants to run to the top of the gear before it will shift, just as if I had the gas pedal floored and the kickdown switch ativated.

What I know is the kickdown is electrically activated. On my carbed '77 the switch is on the gas pedal bracket. when the pedal is depressed more than halfway it hits an arm on the switch.
What I dont know is where it is located on TBI trucks. Mine is missing from the gas pedal. And I'm not sure if T400's came in a lockup version like the T350's, which would have an extra wire running to the tranny.
Also, I believe most gas pedal brackets have the hole for the switch no matter what tranny was used, so its easy enough to put one in.
Good luck
Bob