Re: computer governor (should I be concerned?)

[jtrealty@xxxx]

You asked a lot of questions but they all relate to the health of an 
automatic trans with about 40k miles. Here is what I recomend. Inspect 
the fluid level and condition with the dipstick. Smell the fluid and 
observe the color. Feel it between your fingers. If it is not burnt 
and no small bits in it adjust the level. For the final drive you must 
lift the car and remove a level plug on the side. It really is not 
necessary to change it just make sure that it is level with the plug 
hole. If it is shifting well there really isn't much to do except 
check the line pressure and adjust if needed, check the shift computer 
cable adjustment, and the linkage adjustment. If you are real 
ambitious you could remove the trans pan, clean it out and clean or 
replace the filter. You really can't change the trans fluid because 
most of it stays inside it and the torque converter. The shift 
computer may eventually go bad but even a 20 year old NOS computer 
will funtion better than on that has been in service. It can be 
changed without pulling the trans or even dropping the fluid. They 
do't seem to fail totaly at first. You will notice weird shifting like 
unexpected 3-2 downshifts. Some people are of the opinion that 
jump-starting the car makes a difference but I suspect that is not so 
much the case as usually when you hook up the cables the ignition on 
the dead car is off so the power and surge doesn't get to the shift 
computer. IMHO the major problems are the caps, moisture, and the bad 
solder joints all of which can be repaired.
David Teitelbaum
vin 10757 


--- In dmcnews@xxxx, dmc12@xxxx wrote:
> Hi All,
> 
> I own Vin# 5462 in the UK and it is an automatic, I constantly hear 
> of the Computer Governor going wrong. My car is at almost 40K miles 
> and seems to be perfectly fine, I have jump started the car a few 
> times but not recently and this has also been said to cause 
premature 
> malfunction.
> 
> Is it worth having the governor changed just for reassurance sake? 
do 
> they go bad without warning i.e. will I one day be stranded / and is 
> there an updated version availible which will not go up the wall so 
> easilly. I don't want to spend a packet and having some 20 year old 
> replacement put in it's place!. I am not really that interested in 
> having to modify the governor myself as I only have limited 
> electrical knowledge.
> Also is the governor a Ba***rd to remove is it actually inside the 
> transmition?
> 
> Lastly I want to change the tranny oil and fluid but where to you 
put 
> the oil in for the tranny. I know on automatics you useally have to 
> put the transmition fluid down the transmittion dipstick tube but I 
> cant see where the gearbox oil goes in?
> 
> Hope all of the above doesen't make me look too stupid.
> 
> Many Thanks
> 
> James RG
> England