Hi all, I've got a 1979 Ford Fairmont and this is the closest thing I can find to a forum for my car. I heard there are a few Fairmont owners among you, and the Fairmont is a Fox. So I thought I'd introduce myself (well, introduce my car at least) and ask a question that has been troubling me.
"Gertrude" is the aforementioned 1979 Ford Fairmont station wagon (yes, with wood paneling!). She's got the 3.3L (200ci) inline 6 with a C3 three-speed automatic behind it. I got her on Leap Day this year with 56K on the clock and she's been my daily driver since April. She is a blast to drive and very reliable except for one little problem.
The engine doesn't brake when the automatic transmission engages its clutches to shift, causing the engine to rev excessively between gears. It particularly happens when shifting from second to third; from first to second it's less noticeable. Also when climbing a hill at slow speeds, sometimes she shifts back and forth between second and third like she just can't decide which gear she wants to be in. This can be very frustrating on an uphill ramp when I'm trying to enter the highway. I've been babying her, not wanting to cause the little OHV engine to spool too much (I don't have a tach, I'm just going by feel).
Could this be a vacuum or mechanical linkage problem? I found the vacuum line going to the transmission housing; the rubber is new, it's not blocked, and it's firmly attached. All vacuum lines in that cluster seem to be shipshape. Has anybody else encountered this problem? Once in a while Gertrude will shift smoothly with no revving, usually when the engine hasn't warmed up yet. Any ideas as to where I should look?
Sorry for writing a novel, I wanted to present a clear picture.
"Gertrude" is the aforementioned 1979 Ford Fairmont station wagon (yes, with wood paneling!). She's got the 3.3L (200ci) inline 6 with a C3 three-speed automatic behind it. I got her on Leap Day this year with 56K on the clock and she's been my daily driver since April. She is a blast to drive and very reliable except for one little problem.
The engine doesn't brake when the automatic transmission engages its clutches to shift, causing the engine to rev excessively between gears. It particularly happens when shifting from second to third; from first to second it's less noticeable. Also when climbing a hill at slow speeds, sometimes she shifts back and forth between second and third like she just can't decide which gear she wants to be in. This can be very frustrating on an uphill ramp when I'm trying to enter the highway. I've been babying her, not wanting to cause the little OHV engine to spool too much (I don't have a tach, I'm just going by feel).
Could this be a vacuum or mechanical linkage problem? I found the vacuum line going to the transmission housing; the rubber is new, it's not blocked, and it's firmly attached. All vacuum lines in that cluster seem to be shipshape. Has anybody else encountered this problem? Once in a while Gertrude will shift smoothly with no revving, usually when the engine hasn't warmed up yet. Any ideas as to where I should look?
Sorry for writing a novel, I wanted to present a clear picture.