tranny problems and diagnostics codes

stretch85 · #1 06-16-2005, 10:18 PM

Hi everyone. First off, I have an '89 camaro RS with an automatic 305 5.0L TBI. I just ran a diagnostics test on it using a "key" (not using a scanner). The code it gave me was......(FLASH FLASH {pause} FLASH FLASH FLASH). So to clarify, it flashed twice, paused, then flashed 3 times. Does anybody know what code this is?

Also, I'm having some tranny problems. Nearly every time I put it into gear (or even when I put it in park for that matter) my tranny almost always "thumps" usually incredibly hard. I'm really trying to get to the root of the problem before something worse happens. It's not the tranny mount or the u-joint, they're both fine. Is there anything else it could be? My car does idle high, could this be why my tranny "thumps" when I put it in gear? At what RPM should my car be idling? Sorry for such the long post. Thanks in advance for the help.

bag91 · #2 06-16-2005, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stretch85

Hi everyone. First off, I have an '89 camaro RS with an automatic 305 5.0L TBI. I just ran a diagnostics test on it using a "key" (not using a scanner). The code it gave me was......(FLASH FLASH {pause} FLASH FLASH FLASH). So to clarify, it flashed twice, paused, then flashed 3 times. Does anybody know what code this is?

Also, I'm having some tranny problems. Nearly every time I put it into gear (or even when I put it in park for that matter) my tranny almost always "thumps" usually incredibly hard. I'm really trying to get to the root of the problem before something worse happens. It's not the tranny mount or the u-joint, they're both fine. Is there anything else it could be? My car does idle high, could this be why my tranny "thumps" when I put it in gear? At what RPM should my car be idling? Sorry for such the long post. Thanks in advance for the help.

It shoud idle around 800.
How high does it idle?

stretch85 · #3 06-16-2005, 11:55 PM

It idles around 15K and then drops down to around 10K after a minute or two. I just went out a little bit ago and fooled with the throttle body, my step dad adjusted a screw on the front, driver side of the throttle body and we got the RPM's to drop to about 7K or so. It still thumps pretty hard though. It's not when It's shifting while driving, it's while shifting from Park to Drive, or Drive to Reverse, or Reverse to Park, or any combination of the above. (I have an automatic tranny). The person that sold it to me, may have put a shift kit in it, if it does have a shift kit, could it make it "thump" relatively hard? Thanks for the help.

bag91 · #4 06-17-2005, 03:42 AM

When it thumps does it also make a loud bang?
Do you park on a hill?
Next time you park your car; with your brake on, place your car in park....still with the brake on pull the Emergency brake, and then turn off your car or whatever
Sometimes when I dont use my E brake on hills it bangs a little to get into gear. Try that, it might work......

wrightz28 · #5 06-17-2005, 09:55 AM

Your DTC 23, s.b intake air temp sensor, constant low temp dietected, I think, I'm on my first cup of coffee here, but I'm 95% sure of it.

My 85 is a little jerky too going into gear. It's my warning message to the kids to back up from the car because it's about to move

Anyways, my problem is weak front calipers so my brakes aren't grabbing the best they should and allows the car to move a fraction of a inch to cause the 'jerky' feeling, on mine anyways.

89IROC&RS · #6 06-17-2005, 11:00 AM

was the tranny rebuilt when the shift kit was installed??? if not, you may be due for a tranny overhaul and rebuild.

89IROC&RS · #7 06-17-2005, 11:01 AM

also the high idle at startup is normal, its to bring the vehicle to operating temperature faster for emissions reasons. after it goes into closed loop the rpms will drop to the idle speed mine idles around 700rpms at that point, but does idle at 1200 - 1500 rpms durring warmup.

stretch85 · #8 06-17-2005, 03:45 PM

I was told by someone else on another forum that they were pretty certain it was code 23 as well, so I'll accept that. I may have fixed it though. I tweaked on a screw on the front, driver side of the throttle body, and the 'service engine' light went off. I read that code 23 could also be a bad 'TPS'. So hopefully that problems gone. It is idling at around 7K now.

Yes, my tranny does make a mild bang some times when it "thumps", but not always. And it thumps wheather I'm on a hill or not. I'm going to get down there and check the tranny mount one more time. I checked it long ago, and I told my mechanic to check it while it was in the shop earlier this week, but he just checked the u-joint, and not the tranny mount. But I couldn't imagine the mount being bad, it's new. Besides, my stepdad went out there with me, and was looking at the tranny while I was shifting, and he said it looked fine. You may be right, it may be time for a rebuild. I certainly hope not though. Maybe I can just find a tranny in the newspaper or a junkyard for cheap. I'm going to a couple good junk yards this weekend anyway, might as well see what they want for a tranny.

To be honest, I know nothing of what was done to the tranny before I bought it. He may have installed a shift kit, but I'm not even sure on that (my stepdad said that it seems like it may have a shift kit from the way it shifts). I don't think he rebuilt the tranny though. At least not that I remember.

Well, thanks for the help everyone. Hopefully I can get it resolved soon. There's a new mitsubishi across the street that I want to tear apart.

wrightz28 · #9 06-17-2005, 03:55 PM

I think you're right about the trouble code being TPS, I might have 'em mixed up with my Buick.

Before you condemn the trans, have you checked the throttle vavle cable if it's set? Also don't over look the vacuum modulator either, pull the vacuum line off and make sure there's no signs of tranny blood in it.

stretch85 · #10 06-17-2005, 04:06 PM

well I was directed to a website, and it said code 23 was for the TPS AND for the IAT I believe.

Don't worry, I'm not going to buy another tranny unless it's absolutely neccassary. I dont have any knowledge when it comes to tranny's, so I'm in the dark when you talk of 'throttle valve cable' and 'vacuum line' (although I'm sure I can find the vacuum line), but I'll have my step dad or one of my friends take a look at it. Thanks for the tip.

Rally Sport · #11 06-17-2005, 04:59 PM

Funny my car idles at 1K and starts cold at almost 2K from what I could remember.

89IROC&RS · #12 06-17-2005, 11:57 PM

the TV cable is a cable from your tranny to the throttle blades. the cable comes up into a black box lookin thing. push that button in and let the "donky dick" come out. Now get in the car and press the gas all the way down, you should hear a ratcheting noise from under the hood. thats the cable adjusting itself. after that if the problem is still there its a rear suspension bushing or mount that is probly loose. that or the tranny needs a rebuild.

instantkevin · #13 06-18-2005, 11:12 PM

i'm sure your error code was just from the idle being set incorrectly. the computer thought that the TPS was defective cause the idle was too high. This is what happens when people try to "fix" things by changing something else. the car probably had some idling problems before and someone tried to compensate by raising it.

I remember from my Haynes manual, a "bang" when shifting into gear is most likely due to worn suspension parts. a shift kit could aggravate the problem too, cause it cause the tranny to be thrown in gear, not smoothly. i think your tranny is fine... I would check the adjusment on the transmission throttle line (TV cable). if it is not adjusted properly you might be getting more line pressure than you are supposed to at idle, which would cause a harder shift at idle.

go here to read on how to adjust it.
http://www.tvmadeez.com/tvinstadj.php

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