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Thread: Automatic Transmission shift points?

  1. #1
    DX User l75eya's Avatar
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    Automatic Transmission shift points?

    I just adjusted my TV cable according to the transmission adjustment thread ( https://www.3geez.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40885 ) as mine was WAY off, shifting from first to second with it floored at about 3800 rpms lol (btw 0-60 with the cable this badly adjusted takes about 20 seconds hehe)
    I was wondering if there's anybody else out there who has adjusted the cable and gotten it to the perfect slack, if they could give a general idea of the rpms and speed at which they're tranny shifts for them under light to moderate and then wide open throttle.
    The way my car is adjusted right now it's better than it was before but I think it's a bit too tight now, there is something confusing though:
    At WOT it shifts from first to second where it should; close to redline.
    From first to second it once again shifts at the proper point, close to redline, at about 61mph (sorry I don't remember the speed it shifted from first to second)
    This is all well and good and my accord I can gladly say now accelerates barely fast enough to keep up with today's super computer cars! =)
    The issue is light to moderate throttle shifting, though.
    It seems to be shifting a bit too late in each gear, around 3k (20 mph about from first to second and about 38 2nd to 3rd)
    This confuses me lol, because if I adjust the tv cable to lower the shift points more to their normal area that's also going to affect my WOT shift points, right?
    That brings be right back to the question I asked earlier lol
    Can anybody suggest what the normal shift points should be? Am I just so used to my trans shifting so early from before adjusting it that it just *seems* like it's shifting too early? Although I do think 3k rpms is a little high for it to be shifting from 1st to 2nd under light acceleration lol, it's going to eat up gas like a fat kid does pie.
    Okay, I guess that's all I wanted to say / ask, this is probably confusing enough already lol
    Thoughts?



  2. #2

    Dr_Snooz's Avatar
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    Re: Automatic Transmission shift points?

    I adjusted mine correctly too and am not happy. It's your car. Adjust it so it works for you. It takes some time to get it right.
    Dr_Snooz

    "I like to take hammers, and just break stuff, just break stuff." - Beavis


    1989 Honda Accord LX-i Coupe, 240k miles, MT swap, rear disc swap

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  3. #3
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    Re: Automatic Transmission shift points?

    actually 3k sounds pretty normal, but i 2nd what snooz said.

  4. #4

    2oodoor's Avatar
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    Re: Automatic Transmission shift points?

    Quote Originally Posted by Dr_Snooz View Post
    I adjusted mine correctly too and am not happy. It's your car. Adjust it so it works for you. It takes some time to get it right.
    exactly, there are some things to take notice too though. There were two different styles , one the TV cable is connected to the gas pedal, the other it connects to the throttle on the carb or throttle body.
    Make sure the cable does not hang or bind, it must move freely and always return to home position.
    I converted to a Weber carb so I got plenty of practice at getting this shift point thing right. The factory setting is just a reference point, you have to tweek the adjustment to suit your tune, carb, tire size, and driving style. Just moving the jam nut one or two threads produces results.
    The way I have mine set, I have to be careful not to kick it down two gears sometimes like when going up a twisty hill. That would be a good reason not to let anyone else drive the car!!
    The TV cable moves according to how much throttle you give it so keep that in mind when I say "state of tune" drastically affects how this works. This means that gradually as you have to open the throttle more to make the torque you need for momemtum... your shift points will change as the tune deteriorates or you get different gas, etc..
    Ideally you want it to not hang on gears too long with regular traffic light driving, you want it to go into overdrive (lock up) around 60-65 mph without constantly going in and out. This is difficult to do especially with a modified engine, so it takes plenty of patience and remember just a turn or two makes it shift different. Make sure the ATF is not more than 12K miles old, it should be changed about once a year IMO.
    If you remove the plastic cover under the passenger side (usdm) wheel well, the small one in the front, you can access the cable easy.
    Last edited by 2oodoor; 10-25-2008 at 02:22 AM.

  5. #5
    DX User l75eya's Avatar
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    Re: Automatic Transmission shift points?

    What you guys have said makes a lot of sense so I guess I'll just do that, move it one or two threads at a time and just get it to the point where I feel like it's shifting right. I was getting to the cable the way recommended in the how-to by removing the battery and the battery tray, but that's going to test my patience if I have to keep taking the battery out, adjusting a few threads, reinstalling the battery, taking the car out to test, repeat, repeat lol, so i'll check out getting to the cable through the wheel-well.
    Thanks a lot guys

  6. #6

    A20A1's Avatar
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    Re: Automatic Transmission shift points?

    I dunno if I mentioned this in the other thread but make sure your throttle cable is not loose, then adjust the TV. That's assuming you have the TV hooked up to the throttle linkage, but even if it went to the pedal, adjusting the throttle cable can help.
    - llia


  7. #7

    2oodoor's Avatar
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    Re: Automatic Transmission shift points?

    Quote Originally Posted by A20A1 View Post
    I dunno if I mentioned this in the other thread but make sure your throttle cable is not loose, then adjust the TV. That's assuming you have the TV hooked up to the throttle linkage, but even if it went to the pedal, adjusting the throttle cable can help.
    absolutley! I neglected to mention that important detail. The very first thing is to watch the throttle shaft of the carb or efi TB as you move the gas pedal. You should have very little slack or movement of the pedal without movement of the throttle shaft. Then proceed with other adjustments.

  8. #8
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    Re: Automatic Transmission shift points?

    for me half pedal shifts out of first at about 24 to 26 at 3.5 rpm
    second i can strectch full petal to almost 55mph at 5.25 rpm
    3rd ends at 75 at 5.25k ive gotten my honda to almost 5.5k rpm in forth and was almost 124mph

    i have an a20a3 block with a20a1 parts diffrent bore its the jdm model original carb switching exhaust to a 2.25 here soon with a lxi 4-2 header shold be intresting =)

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