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Old 05-06-2012, 06:30 AM   #16
maxwedge
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Re: 1981 Eldorado Biarritz Electrical Issues

That trans had no electronic upshift controls, so I do not believe the speed sensor is going to fix it, but give them the rope here but make it clear to them if this does not fix the trans put the old part back or do not charge you.
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Old 05-06-2012, 12:03 PM   #17
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Re: 1981 Eldorado Biarritz Electrical Issues

They said they had to replace the speed sensor in order to even diagnose the transmission issue.
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Old 05-06-2012, 05:09 PM   #18
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Re: 1981 Eldorado Biarritz Electrical Issues

It's unclear from the repair manual what transmission this car has. It says

"There have also been two basic transaxle series used in the Eldorado and the front wheel drive Seville. The 325, which includes the 325-4L; and the 425 which includes early model Turbo Hydra-Matic transaxle (1967-76) used in the Eldorado."

So it sounds like 67-76 used the 425, so I'm guessing 81 used either the 325 or 325-4L?
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Old 05-06-2012, 05:26 PM   #19
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Re: 1981 Eldorado Biarritz Electrical Issues

My friend says he can put a new transmission on there if I can find one. Is it possible to find a factory new transmission or will I find rebuilt only? Or should I have my friend try and take the old transmission apart and rebuild it?

I found a few transmissions on ebay that look good. One is $375 off a car with 70,000 miles.

My guess is that I have a 325-4L, but not sure about that just yet.

I found this too:
http://www.transmissionpartsusa.com/...-000048934.htm
Pretty much exactly the problem I am having.

Also, a different friend suggests changing the transmission fluid and filter first and see if that fixes things.
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Old 05-06-2012, 06:04 PM   #20
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Re: 1981 Eldorado Biarritz Electrical Issues

The 325 4l is a 4spd o/d unit, the d position on the shift indicator would have a circle around it, you have the 325, the right way to go about this with a proper diagnosis not guess work is with a trans diagnostic manual or a factory manual or you could waste a lot of time and money, check the the atra website for some info. see this link http://www.atra.com/techassist , type your no upshift question and see what comes back
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Old 05-06-2012, 06:09 PM   #21
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Re: 1981 Eldorado Biarritz Electrical Issues

Thanks for the help on that! I did find an apparently good used transmission on ebay for the 81 Eldorado Biarritz, it says it fits that car. But not sure if its even worth on a used vs getting rebuilt.
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Old 05-08-2012, 01:13 AM   #22
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Re: 1981 Eldorado Biarritz Electrical Issues

I found a used one with a 5000 mile warranty on it for $600. Good enough.

Now I need to know: do you have to drop the engine to replace the transmission on this car?

Thanks!
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Old 05-08-2012, 11:52 AM   #23
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Re: 1981 Eldorado Biarritz Electrical Issues

Considier the shipping and labor costs of this unit if is is bad, big bucks for both and no the engine stays in place but must be supported. I still don't understand how you are sure the trans is bad, just because it will not shift?
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Old 05-08-2012, 12:13 PM   #24
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Re: 1981 Eldorado Biarritz Electrical Issues

Thanks again for the help Max, I really appreciate it. There is no shipping cost on the $600 unit as it is local to me. I am not sure either that the trans is bad, but that is what the shop has told me. They said it wasn't the linkage, and it wasn't the speed sensor, not sure what else I can try. Any suggestions for things I can try on my own? Indeed, the issue is that the car will not upshift.
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Old 05-08-2012, 12:25 PM   #25
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Re: 1981 Eldorado Biarritz Electrical Issues

Did you check the trans vacuum modulator pretty sure it has one, anodized looking cannister with a small vacuum hose on it. Rockauto.com shows this part, if no vacuum to it or if is bad no 1-2 shift till max car speed, then governor will force a shift.
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Old 05-08-2012, 12:35 PM   #26
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Re: 1981 Eldorado Biarritz Electrical Issues

Thanks! I will have my friend help me check that. I have the diesel 5.7 L engine though, I have heard that means vacuum systems are different?
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Old 05-08-2012, 06:53 PM   #27
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Re: 1981 Eldorado Biarritz Electrical Issues

Wow, would have been nice to know that up front. Diesel has no vacuum of course.
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Old 05-09-2012, 02:32 PM   #28
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Re: 1981 Eldorado Biarritz Electrical Issues

Sorry about that! I thought I had mentioned it but looks like I forgot to.
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Old 05-24-2012, 02:26 PM   #29
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Re: 1981 Eldorado Biarritz Electrical Issues

So I took my car to my friend's machine shop and he manage to machine a few plastic bushings that has helped fix the linkage/detent mismatch issue.

He also clipped the cracked ends off some vacuum hoses as apparently this car does have some sort of vacuum system going on. This seems to have helped the issue a bit. The shop diagnosis was "bad 1st and 2nd gear clutch packs - need a new transmission" which I find to be somewhat sketchy. There is also some sort of device hiding under the air filter, sitting on top of the engine, that has two vacuum hoses going to it. One of the connectors is cracked, so I need to get this part replaced. I have no idea what this part is called though, so I will be posting a picture of it later. I'm going to try replacing more cracked vacuum hoses as well as this broken part.

Currently, the car now shifts from 1st to 2nd pretty smoothly, and it *can* shift to 3rd but has to rev pretty high and the transition is pretty abrupt.

Any thoughts on this? Thanks a ton!!
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Old 05-24-2012, 02:30 PM   #30
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Re: 1981 Eldorado Biarritz Electrical Issues

Another symptom/issue:

Occasionally when coming to a stop at a light the engine will die. When trying to reverse, if going slow the car shakes a bit and quite often the engine will die.
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