[T3] 1973 AutoTranny Symptoms.. Advice please.

[Timothy Kender <timothy_kender@cox.net>]

<x-flowed>Hi folks,
This group is rapidly becoming my 2nd net home. Thank you all! Now 
here's my situation.

My 1973's AT behaves oddly. I took it to my mechanic to see if he can 
adjust the carb (PO removed all FI when he replaced the T3 with a bug 
engine sans tin!) the mechanic adjusted the carb, checked the VM & 
hoses, wired the chocke, set dwell, timing, points, etc. He remain 
mystified.

1.    The AT wants to get to 3rd pretty quickly. (As in 10-15 MPH)

2.    The AT wants to skip 2nd to get there.

3.    The AT likes to slam into 1st from a dead stop if it was left in 
3rd gear.

4.    The AT seems to think that standing idle in gear means "leave it 
in 3rd till I need you to downshift, then go for 1st!"

5.    If I manually control the gear changes, 1st & 2nd are very 
well-behaved. Tranny shifts up & down with no problems, and only is 
there a slight slamming into 1st. But, if I shift from 2nd to 3rd and 
forget to remove my foot from the gas, then the engine seems to slip to 
neutral, wind up high, and never find 3rd UNTIL I let off the gas, then 
the vacuum allows 3rd to engage.

6.    Going from Reverse to Drive 1 is quiet & smooth at take-off, but 
from Reverse to Drive 3 causes that loud slam as the AT thinks I've left 
it in Neutral until vacuum or RPM's tell it, "hey the driver wants us to 
go! Get into 1st!" this causes the slamming into gear to happen.

7.    Going from any forward gear to reverse is pleasant and smooth.

8.    I get the smoothest driving results if I downshift through the 
ranges as I come to a stop (3rd to 2nd at 25 MPH; 2nd to 1st at 10 MPH.) 
When downshifting, there is no slamming, no loud bangs, nor any other 
untoward issues, it all shift bases upon the engine's vacuum. Sometimes, 
I nudge the gas a wee bit for it to select 1st as I slow if it doesn't 
shift itself before is completely pause at a red light.

9.    The dipstick shows proper levels when checked with it idling in 
Park.

10.    Temperatures play no key role as it behaves as stated regardless 
of fresh in the AM or after 30 minutes.

11.    There is no ATF leak on the ground, nor in the VM hose to 
exhaust.

12.    I currently drive it from 0-35 with the shifter at 2nd gear, then 
manually choose 3rd above 35 MPH. This usually gives pleasant results. 
All seems to usually shift up and down well.

13.    I've not yet found the AT to have a "kickdown" behaviour. Rather, 
I've found it to have a "kick to neutral and rev up the motor" behaviour 
when I open the throttle. But if it does kickdown, I have that 
"gawdawful" metallic slamming & scraping of the tranny as it locates 1st 
-- a sound I don't like hearing as I imagine bits of vw AT rending to 
pieces and littering the AT pan.

14.    I've not opened the AT pan and checked for debris as I awai Jim 
to send the ordered parts. We are now waiting on folks here to gve 
input, insight, and experiences that are similar to mine.

Please advise. This is my first Autotranny, and I think it wants me to 
treat it more like an Autostick!

Thanks in advance,
Timothy
1973 Fasty "Sport"
1977 Highroof "Little Buddha"

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