Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) kickdown cable adjustment

[onstottc]

To fix early shifting I tried to adjust my Kickdown cable. There is some play before the throttle valve moves. The manual and dodgeram.org Says there should be a lockdown tab or button. I Cant find one. Here are some pics. Ideas?

 

[fox]

If my memory is good, (usually not! ), there is a button to push to relax the hold on it. Do you have a factory service manual?

Another option is to bend the rear bracket on the trans to make this adjustment. The factory cable may have stretched.

 

[RHebert]

Would this be what you're looking for: http://www.jcj.net/dodgeram/trans_adjustment.htm

 

[Joe G.]

The button business is a little deceptive. The thing that looks like a button that you have in your picture is NOT the button. It is the spring houseing for the button. The button is actually the flat place on the opposite side from the spring housing. It's easier to push and hold if you use a very small C-clamp.

 

[onstottc]

That's one of the sites I looked at. My cable does not have the plastic tab to unlock it.

Would this be what you're looking for: http://www.jcj.net/dodgeram/trans_adjustment.htm

 

[tp0d]

JoeG is right. . I had tried quite a many times to find the adjusting button, today I took the cable out of the steel plate and looked at it. The actuating button is on the wheel side not the engine side. It is flat with the housing of the cable, its about . 75"x. 5". Push it in and the jacket of the cable slides in and out. Pull out towards the rear of the rear of the truck, it makes the shifts later and firmer. Push in towards the front and it makes the shifts smoother and earlier. I measured the slack distance of the blue plastic hook that connects to the throttle linkage, and adjusted my cable back about a 1/4 to 3/8". I ended up with 3/16" rearward from the throttle connection. Made the shifts much later, the firmness didnt change cus I have a rebuild. I`ve been trying to make that TV button work, and I FINALLY got it! wooooohooo



-j

 

[onstottc]

Hehe. . I was getting frustrated. I thought about cutting the end of the cable off and making my own baling wire linkage.

JoeG is right. . I had tried quite a many times to find the adjusting button, today I took the cable out of the steel plate and looked at it. The actuating button is on the wheel side not the engine side. It is flat with the housing of the cable, its about . 75"x. 5". Push it in and the jacket of the cable slides in and out. Pull out towards the rear of the rear of the truck, it makes the shifts later and firmer. Push in towards the front and it makes the shifts smoother and earlier. I measured the slack distance of the blue plastic hook that connects to the throttle linkage, and adjusted my cable back about a 1/4 to 3/8". I ended up with 3/16" rearward from the throttle connection. Made the shifts much later, the firmness didnt change cus I have a rebuild. I`ve been trying to make that TV button work, and I FINALLY got it! wooooohooo



-j

 

[onstottc]

I got the kickdown adjusted. No more lugging. . I had my girlfriend floor the pedal and then I adjusted until there was only about 1/8" of travel left on the kickdown lever on the transmission with the pedal down all the way.

 

[fox]

I got the kickdown adjusted. No more lugging. . I had my girlfriend floor the pedal and then I adjusted until there was only about 1/8" of travel left on the kickdown lever on the transmission with the pedal down all the way.

THe most important thing during a cable adjustment is the at idle part.

Is there any slack with the throttle closed? Better not be. And, is the cable already starting to pull the lever? You want it to move the trans lever as soon as the trottle moves.

 

[onstottc]

Followup:



All was good for a few weeks until the transmission lugging started again. Now, I notice that that Cable is fairly slack at the transmission end. There is no more space left for adjustment. I guess the coble has stretched over the years and its time for a new one. Dealer says $66. 00. Can I get one for less?

I got the kickdown adjusted. No more lugging. . I had my girlfriend floor the pedal and then I adjusted until there was only about 1/8" of travel left on the kickdown lever on the transmission with the pedal down all the way.