66 Charger,Auto trans,when cold,wont go into gear??

66 Charger,Auto trans,when cold,wont go into gear?? - 01/08/09 02:34 AM

We have a 66 Charger, auto 727 trans,440 CI engine. Trans was rebuilt a few years ago by a very good trans guy! When the car is very cold, say outside temp is aprox 20* to 38*, the car ,(when it warms up) won't go into gear for some time. Take about 30 to 60 seconds before it want to go into gear. I was wondering if, since its so cold, if its just the older trans etc, that keep it from engaging, or if I might be coming down with tranny problems?? Any thought out there? Thanx in advance. scott

Posted By: sthemi

Re: 66 Charger,Auto trans,when cold,wont go into gear?? - 01/08/09 02:35 AM

Pretty common, try changing the fluid and adjusting the bands..

Posted By: NITROUSN

Re: 66 Charger,Auto trans,when cold,wont go into gear?? - 01/08/09 03:07 AM

Quote:

Pretty common, try changing the fluid and adjusting the bands..

Filter to. Try starting it in neutral instead of park to see if it helps. Has it always done this since it was rebuilt?

Posted By: dave571

Re: 66 Charger,Auto trans,when cold,wont go into gear?? - 01/08/09 03:25 AM

They call it morning sickness.

usally caused by pump bushing clearance. The converter leaks down while it sits unused.

Since a TF doesn't have line pressure in park, you are waiting for the converter to fill up when you shift it into gear.

As suggested earlier, it should improve if you warm the car up in neutral, instead of park.

I would bring it up with the rebuilder, but if it works normally after warming it up in neutral, I'm not sure I'd worry about it much.

Posted By: minivan

Re: 66 Charger,Auto trans,when cold,wont go into gear?? - 01/08/09 04:39 AM

Quote:

They call it morning sickness.

usally caused by pump bushing clearance. The converter leaks down while it sits unused.

Since a TF doesn't have line pressure in park, you are waiting for the converter to fill up when you shift it into gear.

As suggested earlier, it should improve if you warm the car up in neutral, instead of park.

I brought this up with my tranny guy and he looked at me like I was nuts.. So I started my fresh engine/727 in park and it worked great.. I think this is an old wives tail about having to be in neutral for the pump to work....

Posted By: calrobb2000

Re: 66 Charger,Auto trans,when cold,wont go into gear?? - 01/08/09 05:01 AM

hi
it is not an old wives tail !

look at your dip stick it will say to check fluid level at idle warm in N not park for correct tranny fill level !
fluid does not get sent to convertor in park so when it is cold and you first put it in d it has to fill convertor before building psi to engauge clutches to drive the car , !
place it in N after a cold start for app 20 sec fills the convertor and then placing it in drive should be able to drive normal .

Posted By: superwrench

Re: 66 Charger,Auto trans,when cold,wont go into gear?? - 01/08/09 06:02 AM

Quote:

Quote:

They call it morning sickness.

usally caused by pump bushing clearance. The converter leaks down while it sits unused.

Since a TF doesn't have line pressure in park, you are waiting for the converter to fill up when you shift it into gear.

As suggested earlier, it should improve if you warm the car up in neutral, instead of park.

I brought this up with my tranny guy and he looked at me like I was nuts.. So I started my fresh engine/727 in park and it worked great.. I think this is an old wives tail about having to be in neutral for the pump to work....

Definitely NOT an old wives tale!!!

Older Mopars do NOT pump in park.

Convertor drainback has gone on for years. I was told by a tech 40 years ago about how they had to start their Mopars in neutral in the Prairie winters....otherwise they'd be slow to move.
Heck...I still do that with my '92 Cummins 4x4...it's always been a little lazy every morning if I just throw it into reverse after a Park start.
Start it in park if you wish, then bring it down to neutral for 30 seconds....let us know how it works.
If you still got problems...you GOT problems!!!

Posted By: NITROUSN

Re: 66 Charger,Auto trans,when cold,wont go into gear?? - 01/08/09 02:04 PM

Quote:

I think this is an old wives tail about having to be in neutral for the pump to work....

I take you have not been working around cars very long.

Posted By: scotts66charger

Re: 66 Charger,Auto trans,when cold,wont go into gear?? - 01/08/09 05:37 PM

You guys are the best! Alot of info, and its all good, and I THANK you all. I will try and start it in nuetral today ( its 31* out) and let you all know. Thanx again. scott

Posted By: burdar

Re: 66 Charger,Auto trans,when cold,wont go into gear?? - 01/08/09 06:07 PM

They make a different "manual valve" for the valve body that WILL fill the convertor in PARK. I have it in one of my transmisions. That might be an option.

Posted By: Wagonmaster

Re: 66 Charger,Auto trans,when cold,wont go into gear?? - 01/08/09 06:41 PM

Quote:

Quote:

I think this is an old wives tail about having to be in neutral for the pump to work....

I take you have not been working around cars very long.

Let's see...and the reason we check the fluid in "NEUTRAL" is...?

Posted By: scotts66charger

Re: 66 Charger,Auto trans,when cold,wont go into gear?? - 01/09/09 01:51 AM

OK, well you guys were right. I put the trans in neutral when I started up the car, and SHAZAAAM it went right into gear. Like I said before, it took forever to move the car when it was cold, but today (was 20* outside) when I put started it and tried your " trick", it worked fine !!! Thanks again guys.!!!!!! scott

Posted By: dave571

Re: 66 Charger,Auto trans,when cold,wont go into gear?? - 01/09/09 04:40 AM

Quote:

I brought this up with my tranny guy and he looked at me like I was nuts.. So I started my fresh engine/727 in park and it worked great.. I think this is an old wives tail about having to be in neutral for the pump to work....

Find a new tranny guy.

Not many wives tales are printed in the manual.