My transmission suddenly stopped shifting properly. It takes until 55-60mph to kick into 4th gear. Then it shifts down around 45mph back into 2nd(?). I'm not sure about the gear numbers but it definitely isn't right.

So, upon inspection of my kickdown cable, I see this (my kickdown cable).


Googling around, this is what I see (please view the link - I'm noticing a plastic sleeve with a metal bit (ferrule?) attached to the cable which is apparently preventing the kickdown cable from moving in any more.
http://pierce.smugmug.com/By-Date/2012/2012-07-10/i-cDkZ8v8/0/L/IMG3805-L.jpg

It seems I'm missing the ferrule and plastic sleeve, which, if so, I'd suspect is the #1 culprit for causing my gear shifting woes when in drive. Everything else is working as it should, transmission-wise, though my ATF needs a change as it's not looking too RED any longer :(.

Also: I'd love to scale down that image so it fits on most browser windows. Any help on the code to use would be most appreciated. Thanks BB.

Thanks to all the folks kind enough to reply.
It turns out that what my problem was relates to this: I had swapped out my shifter assembly a few days before I posted this and didn't reconnect my overdrive electric wire very well (the yellow one underneath the car just rear of the transmission, next to the u-joint). It must have come apart, thus causing the issue. I fixed this quite easily. Now for a transmission flush . . .

Dear Rogue Diabetic,

Hope you're well. Thanks for the follow-up post.

When replacing the transmission fluid, be careful not to commit any sins of the flush.

Yours faithfully,

Spook

be careful not to commit any sins of the flush.

Zing! Spook, that is awesome!!!

For clarity, the pic is not your car but an example you found, is that right?

The ferrule is an adjustment aid; its lack is not the issue.
One question; have you recently done anything near the back of the motor, such as check the trans fluid, cps, other wiring, etc? One cause of your problem is inadvertently knocking/pulling the cable housing, the black part, out of its seat, the metal threaded part, thus pulling the cable far too taut, and making the exact problems you describe. Ask me how I know.

Hi Jerry:

No, the inline picture (the first one) is of my car. That's *my* kickdown
cable.

Thank you for the clarification re: the ferrule.

I have done some of the work you describe, and I will check the housing.
It's comments like that ("Ask me how I know") which make BB special.

Thanks,
Travis

before doing anything else thoroughly flush the transmission

Kick down cable can get Stuck to it's housing and not move, keeping it from doing it's job. Try freeing the inner cable with ATF, if you are lucky you will free it up and not have to place it.
Dan

Dan, thank you, but when I turn the throttle thingy, the kick down cable moves freely. I'm pretty sure it's not stuck at all, but will consider that option.

Pull on the cable, you should hear a metallic clunk from inside the trans. Make sure it is adjusted correctly with about 2 mm of play.

If the trans fluid is anything but nice and red do a complete flush as outlined in the FAQ's with 12 -15 quarts of trans fluid.
Dan