Just bought a 1984 GLE! Transmission Question for you all

[sonnyjim]

So, I bought this car and drove it about 3000km home without issue. I bought it sight unseen off of one picture. When i picked up the car i realized there was no OD button and it seemed to only be 3 speeds... My research showed that it was likely a BW55 and must have had pretty low gear ratio as i was spinning at 3500rpm at 100km/h (stock wheels). Car ran ran great, was smooth, and even got decent fuel mileage (about 11.5l/100km). However, when I got under it, after i got home, I can see there IS an OD selenoid, and the badge on the tranny says aisin-warner 03-70! Anyone know what is up with that??? The shifter has no OD button so i assumed it was just a 3 speed (and it wasnt shifting into OD ever).

Did they make a 4 speed without an OD button? If so, i guess my solenoid is bust? If not... maybe someone swapped it in but didn't change the shifter?

 

[Khrrck]

Trace the wiring from the transmission solenoid. See where it goes. Should go on top of the transmission and then come up through the bottom of the shifter.

If the wiring is in good condition (not shorted to ground) try applying 12V and see if you hear the solenoid moving.

It sounds like a lazy swap job.

 

[fatcatbestcat]

...maybe I missed it but what GLE? 740/760 is my first assumption but maybe you're in Europe and have a 240.

 

[sonnyjim]

...maybe I missed it but what GLE? 740/760 is my first assumption but maybe you're in Europe and have a 240.

My bad, it's in Canada, so is a 240

 

[sonnyjim]

Trace the wiring from the transmission solenoid. See where it goes. Should go on top of the transmission and then come up through the bottom of the shifter.

If the wiring is in good condition (not shorted to ground) try applying 12V and see if you hear the solenoid moving.

It sounds like a lazy swap job.

I was thinking of doing the IPD bypass and just always having it work? If I don't like it, perhaps I can just pull the fuse and go back to 3 speed? Would that work?

I live in a pretty hilly area, and it came from the Rockies, which is probably why no one ever cared if it had OD.

 

[fatcatbestcat]

Do you know what motor it has? Single carb B21A cars in Canada got the 3-speed auto for some reason, all the way up to 1984. B21A was the base motor.

Otherwise, the IPD bypass works fine in my car. I didn't install it but I expected not being able to manually kick down from O/D to be horrid - there's actually a very predictable kickdown if you press really hard on the accelerator.

 

[2 old for this]

Tell us again what the tag on the case reads. Is the last digit a L ? If so L means it’s a locking converter. If it were mine I would make it all work as designed.

 

[dl242gt]

You can also remove the glove box and reach in to the left behind the dash and check to make sure the relay is there. A GLE model should be fuel injected with the nicer interior. Maybe a tach dash, too.

 

[OVERDRIVE]

Tell us again what the tag on the case reads. Is the last digit a L ? If so L means it’s a locking converter. If it were mine I would make it all work as designed.

No 240 ever had a locking converter. When I'm out of OD I'm 3000rpms at 60mph with 3.73s. There's no way the BW55 cars were 3.91, were they? I don't like the bypass plate because being able to keep from shifting into 4th is very helpful, and troubleshooting and fixing the system is easy.

 

[sonnyjim]

Do you know what motor it has? Single carb B21A cars in Canada got the 3-speed auto for some reason, all the way up to 1984. B21A was the base motor.

Otherwise, the IPD bypass works fine in my car. I didn't install it but I expected not being able to manually kick down from O/D to be horrid - there's actually a very predictable kickdown if you press really hard on the accelerator.

I didn't see any marks on engine to indicate it was a b21. I recall decoding the vin to see it's a B23F (though maybe I'm mistaken on how I deciphered the vin)? Do we know if any cars with a three speed had a b23f? My car has original manual and it implies that OD was just an option and didn't mention carbs.

Judging by the shifter... I think this car came with a BW55 tranny and had b23f engine.

Regardless of what was original, it's definitely a AW70 tranny now... Not certain if engine is original.

I just drove from BC to Ontario (3100km) through the mountains. I manually shifted it into 2nd once or twice (with the shifter), but I know what you mean on using the pedal in a purposeful way to shift it down. But, it normally pulled okay up the hills in third, if I approached it properly.

 

[sonnyjim]

No 240 ever had a locking converter. When I'm out of OD I'm 3000rpms at 60mph with 3.73s. There's no way the BW55 cars were 3.91, were they? I don't like the bypass plate because being able to keep from shifting into 4th is very helpful, and troubleshooting and fixing the system is easy.

I did some googling and saw other people with three speeds mention 3500rpm at 60mph. Based on my reading old threads, Some cars with three speeds had 3.91 and even 4.10(or 4something). This car came from BC so it's possible the original owner was happy with the gearing and 3 speed. The car was smooth and got good fuel mileage, even in the mountains at 3500rpm. Like, I literally just drove on a 3100km road trip at 3500rpm almost the entire time. Lol. Of course in the prairies the OD would have been nice.

As for the bypass plate... I hear ya, but I guess I'd need to wire a new switch and stick it somewhere, assuming the solenoid is okay

 

[sonnyjim]

You can also remove the glove box and reach in to the left behind the dash and check to make sure the relay is there. A GLE model should be fuel injected with the nicer interior. Maybe a tach dash, too.

I'll try that

Mine is decent interior, power locks, windows, mirrors, tachometer and SUNROOF

 

[tooTiredtooDie]

As much as I like ipd there's a knock off block off plate on Amazon I got for my aw70. It worked fine and didn't leak, and was a bit cheaper.

 

[fatcatbestcat]

Some pictures would be appreciated. I'm definitely confused as hell trying to picture a 1984 B23F car with a 3 speed automatic.

My thought is that perhaps it does just have an AW70 with a failing/failed OD solenoid, and someone in the past has replaced the shifter with one from a 3 speed car for some reason. Unfortunately the VIN doesn't tell you what transmission the car came with, only the engine code.

 

[sonnyjim]

Some pictures would be appreciated. I'm definitely confused as hell trying to picture a 1984 B23F car with a 3 speed automatic.

My thought is that perhaps it does just have an AW70 with a failing/failed OD solenoid, and someone in the past has replaced the shifter with one from a 3 speed car for some reason. Unfortunately the VIN doesn't tell you what transmission the car came with, only the engine code.

It's definitely a 3 speed shifter, AW70 tranny and B23F. It makes the most sense that the tranny was swapped at sometime (300000km on car). But they didn't swap the shifter (which is a bit odd). And the selenoid failed or never worked. Looking online, I can't seem to find a selenoid... I'll try finding the wires and applying 12v. Though, someone spliced a blade fuse into the overdrive/rear defrost fuse location... Someone also installed cruise control, but I couldn't get it working (seems to all be there).

 

[fatcatbestcat]

Whereabouts in Ontario are you? I have a 1990 parts car with the auto shifter and O/D button still intact if you want one. I can't comment on the condition of its shift solenoid but it's possible your problem might be solved by just having the switch to hook up.

 

[Khrrck]

I'd get the solenoid working if you can. Being able to select 3rd or 4th is nice especially if you live in a mountain area like you mention. You have more engine braking options and supposedly it's not good to be climbing mountains in 4th. Definitely should not tow in 4th.

At the very least figure out how much of the overdrive system is installed before you remove stuff. There should be the previously mentioned relay visible on the left if you remove the glovebox. If you pull up the shifter cover you should also see the wiring for the OD solenoid running through a rubber grommet in the front of the little well that the shifter sits in.

 

[sonnyjim]

Whereabouts in Ontario are you? I have a 1990 parts car with the auto shifter and O/D button still intact if you want one. I can't comment on the condition of its shift solenoid but it's possible your problem might be solved by just having the switch to hook up.

I think you might be right that it could just be lack of switch. i am way up north (red lake). I would definitely be interested, but unfortunately can't pull it off myself and may need it to be mailed.

 

[sonnyjim]

I'd get the solenoid working if you can. Being able to select 3rd or 4th is nice especially if you live in a mountain area like you mention. You have more engine braking options and supposedly it's not good to be climbing mountains in 4th. Definitely should not tow in 4th.

At the very least figure out how much of the overdrive system is installed before you remove stuff. There should be the previously mentioned relay visible on the left if you remove the glovebox. If you pull up the shifter cover you should also see the wiring for the OD solenoid running through a rubber grommet in the front of the little well that the shifter sits in.

Thanks for the advice, i will take a look behind the glove box and under the shifter. Does the plastic shift trip just pull straight up? I'm not sure about glovebox either. I just hate fumbling my way though that stuff and breaking plastic clips.

 

[fatcatbestcat]

The glovebox is held in with seven Philips head screws, open up the glovebox and you can see them, they go around the rim. Remove the screws and the entire thing pulls out the front.