Need help OPERA HOUSE ...if your around

[Taasman]

I was reading another post further down on this board, that oily hoses on the vacum tree is a dead give away of a leaking transmission modulator. With my transmission problems I describe in my other post on this board, I also had those hoses fall off twice now...and they had all kinds of oil in them. Could this be my tranny problem??? I hope!!! Where is the modulator valve located on the tranny? maybe I should try replacing it to see if it solves my tranny condition.

[Opera House]

A 94 or earlier has a vacuum modulator. It is located on the exhaust side of the transmission and is near impossible to get at unless you remove the exhaust system in that section. You can go through the access panel under the carpet if you remove the seat. Part is cheap $12 but a bit of work. There is a little pin that will fall out. Problems encountered will be late shifts because there is a little internal orifice that passes air daster than fluid, shifting problems because of low fluid, and often a tendency to backfire.

The modulator will not prevent the vehicle from moving. Low fluid can prevent shifting because of lower pressure. Sticking speed governor can also cause late shifting 1>2. As I said before the low/reverse servo is probably also leaking at this age. This is an old transmission and it would not be unusual to have all three of these problems. You didn't answer if you had the engagement problem before changing the filter. Please don't multiple post. It makes it very difficult to follow the problem.

[Taasman]

Sorry about the multiple post, just wanted your advice on that modulator condition. As with the oily hoses on the engine vacum tree, and I did notice mine very, very oily..and fallen off twice now could be my problem. To answer your other question, yes the shifting was happening before I changed filter. One important thing I overlooked was that when I say back out onto the road from my driveway and it won't go into gear ( I mean any gear at all Including Reverse ) It goes into gear with the initial reverse to get out of the driveway, then once I stop and attemp to drive away, I get nothing at all...If I move it to reverse, or any other gear...still nothing...then I usually just sit a few seconds in park and then drop it back down into drive, and give it slow throttle and it catches and shifts good the rest of the day.

The only other thing I noticed was that bit of a clunk coming off the gas approaching a stop...but it does'nt do it all the time, it usually shifts good.

Again sorry for the multiple post...just figured my modulator could be my problem having those oily hoses.

[Opera House]

Unfortunantly you are in a grey area. There is no one part you replace for this problem. Your symptoms are of low fluid pressure which can be cumulitive from the pump, to seals, to the valve body. It is likely that the control pressure regulator valve is sticking since this is in every gear. There is a pressure tap just behind the shift lever. Minimum presure should be greater than 60# and well over 100# if you rev the engine just a little. This valve is seperate pieces in the valve that can be polished up. Do not take off the valve body without a manual and NEVER tip it over. There are pieces thart will fall out and it isn't that obvious where they go even with a manual. www.bulkpart.com has a manual for $16 and a badic gasket for $30, the best SPX filter for $10. There are shift improvement kits from TTANSGO etc that have resleeve kits for really bad problems, but I have never used one.