Overrunning clutch on my 3AT Loyale FWD?

[Zekeuyasha]

I always thought this had something to do with my car being 22 years old, but then as I was digging through AllData just now I picked up something about the third solenoid in my transmission's valve body that does something with an overrunning clutch.

When I lift off the accelerator, the engine immediately starts braking and slowing the car down. It's useful on hills (so this lazy guy doesn't have to put a foot on the brake ) but if it's not supposed to do that then I want to get it fixed.

Does the 3AT even have an overrunning clutch or is that just on the 4EAT?

The 3AT I believe was introduced in 1975 so I'm not entirely sure...

Thanks for the info guys!

[AKghandi]

I just got a 91 loyale with 3at mine engine brakes in 1 and 2 but not in D

In D mine just coasts when i let off the pedal

 

Hope this helps.

[desertsubaru]

I just got a 91 loyale with 3at mine engine brakes in 1 and 2 but not in D

In D mine just coasts when i let off the pedal

 

Hope this helps.

My 85 3at FWD does the same thing.

[WoodsWagon]

There are no solenoids in a 3AT. It's a purely hydraulic transmission so it depends on governor line pressure and throttle line pressure to make it shift.

 

What RPM does it shift up from first to second and second to third? If the vacuum line has come off the modulator on the transmission the shift points will be high and it will downshift early.

[l75eya]

When I first started driving the Loyale around, I thought this was a real strange occurrence too, but I've gotten used to it.

 

in final (3rd) gear when you're going at speeds above about 35 mph, when you abruptly let your foot off the gas, you can feel the vehicle engine braking. It even jerks you forward a little bit, too. It's more evident at higher speeds.

 

I think this just has to do with the way the transmission is geared.

Because it only has 3 speeds, when you're doing 50 mph it's at 3k-ish RPMS and when you let your foot off, it's the same engine braking effect you get as if you were in 1st gear going 10 mph at 3k and then suddenly let your foot off the gas.

It's not as harsh of an engine braking of course as it would be in 1st, but it is there.

 

I'm pretty sure it's normal.

 

And for me, shift points based on a light, casual acceleration are about

1st to 2nd 2600 RPM

2nd to 3rd 2400 RPM +/- 100 RPM.

 

What bugs me about the tranny is how it doesn't (well mine doesn't at least) downshift quite properly, for instance;

 

Driving down a block, very light throttle, doing about 28-30 mph the car is now in 3rd gear.

Approaching a right hand turn, slow down, take the turn at about 10 mph (15 if I'm feeling frisky or need something that's too far to the right on the dashboard for me to reach) and then accelerate down that block, the car remains in 3rd gear. 10-15 mph in 3rd gear.

Does the same thing in 2nd gear too, if I'm approaching a turn at a lower speed and the trans is in 2nd, I can come to almost a complete stop and then begin accelerating and it'll still be in 2nd and be groaning.

 

I've begun to just shift the car manually from first to second and then into drive when I need 3rd. Works fine for me, I usually make it shift at 3k.

Downshift from 3rd to 2nd when I hit inclines and such.

 

For some reason I can never *NEVER* downshift into 1st gear while doing anything other than barely rolling otherwise there is a very violent downshift. Not sure why that is.

 

Sorry to ramble, I'll shut up now haha.

[Zekeuyasha]

l75eya I can replicate your situation entirely. My car only freewheels in 3rd at speeds lower than 35MPH

Same thing with the car not downshifting, especially evident when I turn onto a freeway on-ramp. If I put the car in first while going 15 miles per hour even after shifting in 2nd the car lurches and the tires bark on the pavement. I've since stopped doing that...

 

I suppose these little nit-pickings about the car are seated squarely in the fact that the transmission is hydraulic and not electronic.

 

Does anyone else have the problem where unless you have the car manually set in 1rst, it will never redline when you have your foot to the floor?

 

Thanks for the quick responses guys!

[MilesFox]

This is normal for a 3at.

[Zekeuyasha]

Thanks Miles =]

[l75eya]

Yeah, unless I keep it in 1st or 2nd, just flooring it in D from a stop it still usually shifts around 5500 or so.

 

The 3AT really begs one to exercise their gas pedal. The car is absolutely, horrendously slow, unless you aren't afraid to push the pedal to the floor, and often.

[silverhelme]

When I first started driving the Loyale around, I thought this was a real strange occurrence too, but I've gotten used to it.

 

in final (3rd) gear when you're going at speeds above about 35 mph, when you abruptly let your foot off the gas, you can feel the vehicle engine braking. It even jerks you forward a little bit, too. It's more evident at higher speeds.

 

I think this just has to do with the way the transmission is geared.

Because it only has 3 speeds, when you're doing 50 mph it's at 3k-ish RPMS and when you let your foot off, it's the same engine braking effect you get as if you were in 1st gear going 10 mph at 3k and then suddenly let your foot off the gas.

It's not as harsh of an engine braking of course as it would be in 1st, but it is there.

 

I'm pretty sure it's normal.

 

And for me, shift points based on a light, casual acceleration are about

1st to 2nd 2600 RPM

2nd to 3rd 2400 RPM +/- 100 RPM.

 

What bugs me about the tranny is how it doesn't (well mine doesn't at least) downshift quite properly, for instance;

 

Driving down a block, very light throttle, doing about 28-30 mph the car is now in 3rd gear.

Approaching a right hand turn, slow down, take the turn at about 10 mph (15 if I'm feeling frisky or need something that's too far to the right on the dashboard for me to reach) and then accelerate down that block, the car remains in 3rd gear. 10-15 mph in 3rd gear.

Does the same thing in 2nd gear too, if I'm approaching a turn at a lower speed and the trans is in 2nd, I can come to almost a complete stop and then begin accelerating and it'll still be in 2nd and be groaning.

 

I've begun to just shift the car manually from first to second and then into drive when I need 3rd. Works fine for me, I usually make it shift at 3k.

Downshift from 3rd to 2nd when I hit inclines and such.

 

For some reason I can never *NEVER* downshift into 1st gear while doing anything other than barely rolling otherwise there is a very violent downshift. Not sure why that is.

 

Sorry to ramble, I'll shut up now haha.

 

You need to adjust your 2-3 band ( normally a 60k maintenance item but not done very often ) and clean up your shift governor per this article http://www.indysworld.com/80s/general/USRM/Transmission/Governor/ATgovenorclean.htm

[l75eya]

That is a good link to have. Thanks for that. For now, if it ain't broke don't fix it, but if it ever gets worse, I know where to start.