Servicing - A/t Buick Roadmaster VIII

BODY CODE IDENTIFICATION

BODY CODE IDENTIFICATION

IDENTIFICATION

The manufacturer has developed a system to functionally describe its transmissions and transaxles. The designations indicate number of speeds, type, series and major features. (Scheme 33)

Scheme 33

FWD TRANSAXLE APPLICATION

RWD TRANSMISSION APPLICATION

SERVICE INTERVALS

Check transmission fluid level at every engine oil change. Transmission fluid should be changed and filter replaced every 100,000 miles under normal operating conditions. Under continuous extreme operating conditions (trailer towing, heavy city traffic with ambient temperature more than 90°F (32°C) or delivery service), fluid and filter should be changed every 15,000 miles.

CHECKING FLUID LEVEL

1. Start engine, and operate vehicle for at least 15 minutes or until reaching operating temperature. With engine at curb idle and vehicle on level ground, move gear selector lever through all ranges ending in Park.
2. Remove transmission dipstick, wipe clean and fully reinsert into filler tube. Remove dipstick again, and inspect fluid level. Fluid level should be between ADD 1 PT. OR .5L mark and FULL HOT mark on dipstick.

RECOMMENDED FLUID

Use only Dexron-II Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF).

FLUID CAPACITIES

FLUID CAPACITIES (1)

DRAINING & REFILLING

1. With vehicle raised and large drain pan placed under transmission oil pan, remove front and side transmission oil pan bolts only. Loosen rear pan bolts about 4 turns each.
2. Carefully pry pan loose using screwdriver, allowing fluid to drain. Remove remaining bolts, and remove oil pan. Discard old pan gasket. Remove filter and "O" ring or sleeve type seal. Remove any remaining gasket material left on transmission case.
3. Thoroughly clean pan, magnet and screen (if metal) with solvent, and then dry using compressed air. Replace paper filter (if equipped). Install NEW "O" ring on pick-up tube or NEW sleeve into pick-up tube recess. Lubricate with clean oil before installation.
4. Install filter assembly into pick-up tube recess. Install oil pan using NEW gasket, and tighten pan bolts to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS (OIL PAN BOLTS)»(/buick/roadmaster/viii-1991-1996/remont/automatic-trans/#servicing-at) . Add required amount of fluid to transmission through filler tube.
5. Start engine with gear selector lever in Park and parking brake applied. Engage transmission in each gear, ending in Park. Check fluid level with engine warm. Add fluid if necessary. DO NOT overfill.

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS (OIL PAN BOLTS)

THROTTLE VALVE (T.V.) CABLE

Note. 4T60-E transaxle does not use a T.V. cable.

"A" Body (2.5L)

1. Ensure T.V. cable is in full, nonadjusted position. (Scheme 34) Ensure T.V. cable operates smoothly and is connected at transaxle.
2. Accelerator cable must be installed before adjusting T.V. cable. Rotate idler pulley (cam) counterclockwise to 62 INCH lbs. (7 N.m) to place cable in adjusted position.

Scheme 34

"N" Body (2.3L)

1. Rotate T.V. cable adjuster body (at transaxle) 90 degrees. (Scheme 35) Pull cable housing until slider mechanism hits stop.
2. Rotate adjuster body back to original position. Using a torque wrench and socket, rotate T.V. cable adjuster hex nut until 75 INCH lbs. (8.5 N.m) is reached. Road test vehicle.

Scheme 35

Note. On "Y" body, T.V. cable is connected to control cable adjuster assembly, which is part of Acceleration Slip Regulation (ASR) system.

Scheme 36

1. To determine if T.V. cable needs to be adjusted, connect transmission fluid pressure gauge. Connect tachometer. Warm engine. Apply parking brake. Operate engine at 1000 RPM.
2. Note fluid pressure with transmission in Park and then in Drive. Fluid pressure in Drive should be equal to (or no more than 10 psi greater than) pressure in Park. Increase engine speed to 1400 RPM. If pressure does not increase, adjust cable using procedure beginning in next step.
3. Remove splash cover, foam insert and cable cam cover from adjuster assembly. Release lock tab on T.V. cable adjuster in cable between adjuster assembly and transmission. (Scheme 36) Fully extend cable sheath.
4. Press reset tab on throttle body cable adjuster in cable between adjuster assembly and throttle body. Fully extend cable sheath. Disconnect cruise control cable from cruise control servo.
5. Insert a 1/8" (3.2 mm) drill bit into adjuster assembly alignment hole. DO NOT allow drill bit to contact adjuster assembly gear or improper adjustment could result. Turn adjuster cams about 1/8 turn by hand, and then hold in this position.
6. Insert a 1/4"-drive torque wrench (with extension) into 1/4" square drive on cruise control cable cam (type 1) or through cruise control cable cam and into accelerator cable cam (type 2).
7. Turn torque wrench clockwise until a torque value of 71 INCH lbs. (8 N.m) is obtained (several clicks of adjusters will be heard). While holding torque wrench in this position, move lock tab on T.V. cable adjuster to locked position. Remove torque wrench and extension.
8. Fully press accelerator pedal to automatically adjust accelerator cable. Remove drill bit. Ensure cruise control cable is installed in servo bracket. At servo end of cable, pull cable toward servo without moving throttle lever. If any of 5 holes in servo tab aligns with cable pin, push pin through hose, and connect pin to tab using retainer.
9. If a tab hole does not align with pin, move cable away from servo until next closest tab hole aligns, and then connect pin to tab using retainer. DO NOT stretch cable to align tab hole with pin. A stretched cable may prevent throttle from returning to idle position.
10. Using Tech 1 scan tester with 1988-93 Brake System Cartridge, check throttle angle percentage by pressing accelerator pedal. With pedal fully pressed, throttle opening angle should be 100 percent. With pedal released, angle should be zero percent. If percentages are not as specified, check for kinked or damaged cables. If cables are okay, repeat adjustment procedure.

Except "A" (2.5L), "N" (2.3L) & "Y" Bodies

1. Turn ignition off. Press and hold metal readjust tab on cable adjuster at cable support bracket on engine. (Scheme 37) Pull cable housing away from throttle lever until housing stops and is completely against adjuster. Release readjust tab.
2. Rotate throttle lever by hand to its full throttle position. Ensure slider moves (ratchets) toward lever when lever is rotated to its full throttle position. Check cable for sticking and binding.

Scheme 37

SHIFT CABLE (FWD)

Except Self-Adjusting

Place gear selector lever in Neutral. Loosen cable adjusting nut at transaxle lever. (Scheme 38) Ensure transaxle lever is in Neutral detent. Tighten cable adjusting nut. DO NOT tighten nut with transaxle lever in Park detent. DO NOT use impact tools on nut.

Scheme 38

Note. Most "A," "C," "H," "L", "N" and "W" bodies are equipped with a self-adjusting shift cable.

Self-Adjusting

Place gear selector lever in Neutral. Lift up lock button on cable adjuster at transaxle mounting bracket. (Scheme 39) Place transaxle lever in Neutral detent. Push down on lock button.

Scheme 39

SHIFT CABLE (RWD)

"B" & "D" Bodies

1. Place gear selector lever in Park. Raise and support vehicle. Ensure transmission is fully engaged in Park by rotating drive shaft until parking pawl engages, preventing rotation of shaft.
2. Loosen cable adjusting nut on transmission lever to allow pin to slide freely. With gear selector lever and transmission lever both in Park, tighten cable adjusting nut to 15 ft. lbs. (20 N.m). (Scheme 40)

Scheme 40

"F" & "Y" Bodies

Place gear selector lever in Neutral. Raise and support vehicle. Loosen cable adjusting nut at transmission lever. (Scheme 41) Ensure shift shaft lever is in Neutral by rotating lever clockwise to Park detent, and then counterclockwise 2 detents to Neutral. Tighten nut ( DO NOT tighten nut with lever in Park).

Scheme 41

SHIFT LINKAGE ROD (RWD)

Position steering column shift lever in Neutral. Raise and support vehicle. Loosen clamp and clamp screw where end of selector rod extends through hole in clamp. (Scheme 42) Place transmission shift shaft in Neutral. Tighten clamp screw.

Scheme 42

PARK LOCK CABLE (FLOOR SHIFT)

1. With gear selector lever in Park and ignition switch in LOCK position, gear selector lever should not be able to be moved to other gear positions and ignition key should be removable from lock cylinder.
2. With ignition switch in RUN position and gear selector lever in Neutral, ensure ignition switch cannot be turned to LOCK position. If system does not perform as described, unlock park lock cable adjuster (button up). (Scheme 43) Move cable connector nose rearward until key can be removed from ignition. Lock cable adjuster (button down).

Scheme 43

NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH

Note. Adjust neutral safety switch to prevent engine from starting with transmission in any position except Park or Neutral.

FWD

1. FWD models use one of 2 different neutral safety switches. (Scheme 44) Ensure shift cable is adjusted. To adjust switch, place gear selector lever in Neutral.
2. Place transaxle lever in Neutral detent. Loosen switch attaching screws. Rotate switch on shifter assembly to align adjustment hole with carrier tang hole.
3. Insert a.094" (2.4 mm) wire gauge about 5/8" into switch holes. Tighten attaching screws. Remove wire gauge. New switches may have a plastic pin installed in hole. Plastic pin is designed to shear off during shift lever operation.

Scheme 44

RWD ("B" & "D" Bodies)

Vehicles with column shift use a mechanical interference-type neutral start system. With gear selector in any position except Park or Neutral, a wedge-shaped finger, attached to ignition switch actuator rod, prevents ignition switch from being rotated to START position.

Scheme 45

1. Disconnect negative battery cable. Remove gear selector knob and center console cover. Place gear selector lever in Neutral. If old switch is being readjusted, go to next step. If NEW switch is being installed, go to step 4).
2. Align tang on switch with tang slot on shift control. (Scheme 45) Loosen switch mounting nuts. Rotate switch to align service adjustment hole with carrier tang hole.
3. Insert a.092" (2.34 mm) wire gauge into adjustment hole in top of switch. Rotate switch until pin drops to depth of.59" (15 mm). Tighten mounting nuts to 27 INCH lbs. (3 N.m). Vehicle should only start in Park or Neutral.
4. If NEW switch if being installed, insert switch tang in slot on shift control. Tighten mounting nuts to 27 INCH lbs. (3 N.m).
5. Ensure gear selector lever is in Neutral if holes DO NOT align with shift control. DO NOT rotate switch. Switch is pinned in Neutral. NOTE: If new switch is rotated and pin breaks during installation, use adjustment procedure in step 2).
6. If holes align with shift control, move gear selector lever out of Neutral to shear plastic pin.

TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH BRAKE SWITCH

Ensure torque converter clutch brake switch is adjusted to prevent vehicle from stalling at idle due to clutch remaining applied. Ensure brake pedal is fully released. Adjust switch until switch plunger just touches brake pedal lever.

See also:
• TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS (OIL PAN BOLTS)