Vacuum modulator

[Glacier991]

Will a trans shop say rebuild? Probably. But no harm in asking advice from an honest shop.

You have a difficult problem ahead in that you DO have limited space. Ingenuity will be a critical component.

Me ? I think your TV spool is sticking. It's not gonna be easy to pull and clean out and reassemble.

 

[MAGNUMKDB]

Get a little (dentist or cosmetic) mirror and a flashlight that will shine in the hole. Then just look in and check it out. I had to do this and had to grab it out with needle nose pliers as it is alum. and is not magnetic so a magnet wont work. I replaced it with the Superior upgrade which is steel so if I ever need to do it again a magnet will work.

 

[MAGNUMKDB]

Also it could have fallen into the trans pan. There is enough space for this to happen as the part goes into the valve body.

 

[dubs66]

Will a trans shop say rebuild? Probably. But no harm in asking advice from an honest shop.

You have a difficult problem ahead in that you DO have limited space. Ingenuity will be a critical component.

Me ? I think your TV spool is sticking. It's not gonna be easy to pull and clean out and reassemble.

Hmmm. I think I might have to punt on this one LOL. It's been a rough day. Thanks again for the help and advise. I'll let you know what happens. A new car might be in my near future. Sucks, just payed this one off a few months ago but things have been slowly falling apart on it. Maybe I can find a good push, pull or drag sale. Thanks again.

 

[dubs66]

It is unlikely you lost the spool. They not only do not tend to come out, they can be outright buggers to get out. If you did lose one I can send you one.

Oddly enough, some small percentage of folks who replace their modulators after long periods of them not working report problems like you have. I have not faced this problem directly yet, but suspect that the spool moved by the modulator - the throttle valve or TV.. may have a tendency to get stuck. This valve, in conjucntion with the governor is rather critical in the 1st gear and 2nd gear operation.

I cannot tell you definitively, but I think I'd try and pull the TV out of the case and clean up the bore as best I could and make sure the valve moves freely and then reassemble.

Wish I could be more certain.

Would that spool stop the tranny fluid from pouring out of the modulator hole??? I'm just thinking that maybe, just maybe the spool is not in there. The hole thing came appart rather easy. I didn't have any struggles getting the modulator and pin out. Just one little pull and the whole thing came right out. I don't get how the TV would get stuck now as it wasn't sticking before I pulled the modulator out. Why would it start sticking after? If i did get a little(dentist or cosmetic) mirror and a flashlight that will shine in the hole would I actually be able to see the spool in there? All i've been seeing is just the tranny fluid pouring out of the hole thus far. Do you think you could send me that spool? I will pay you for it if you have a spare laying around. One more question, Is it really possible that the spool could have fallen out if the hole and into the pan as MAGNUMKDB suggested? I did stick my finger into the hole but didn't feel the spool in there, would I be able to feel the spool if it was there? Also have to ask what would the symptoms be if I actually did put this all back together with out the spool? Does tha spool along with the pin and modulator help bring the pressure up in the tranny so that it can shift gears? What is it's purpose? Sorry for all the questions but I wanna try to make sure if it's worth back tracking my steps that got me to this point. Thanks again guys. dubs66

 

[dubs66]

Would that spool stop the tranny fluid from pouring out of the modulator hole??? I'm just thinking that maybe, just maybe the spool is not in there. The hole thing came appart rather easy. I didn't have any struggles getting the modulator and pin out. Just one little pull and the whole thing came right out. I don't get how the TV would get stuck now as it wasn't sticking before I pulled the modulator out. Why would it start sticking after? If i did get a little(dentist or cosmetic) mirror and a flashlight that will shine in the hole would I actually be able to see the spool in there? All i've been seeing is just the tranny fluid pouring out of the hole thus far. Do you think you could send me that spool? I will pay you for it if you have a spare laying around. One more question, Is it really possible that the spool could have fallen out if the hole and into the pan as MAGNUMKDB suggested? I did stick my finger into the hole but didn't feel the spool in there, would I be able to feel the spool if it was there? Also have to ask what would the symptoms be if I actually did put this all back together with out the spool? Does tha spool along with the pin and modulator help bring the pressure up in the tranny so that it can shift gears? What is it's purpose? Sorry for all the questions but I wanna try to make sure if it's worth back tracking my steps that got me to this point. Thanks again guys. dubs66

Anyone??? Hope I didn't scare you guys off. I'v been messing with this some more and I pulled the modulator and pin out again. When I stick my finger on the modulator body hole I feel a round part with a round lip in the middle of it. It moves very freely around in circles but I can't get a good grip on it to pull this part out. Would this possibly be the spool or maybe a part that the spool fits into as it's got a round hole in the middle of it but I don't feel anything in the in the middle of that part. Just an empty hole I guess. I almost had that part out a few times but I just can't get a grip on it with my fingers and I just end up pushing it back into the hole. I'm gonna try the get a small plyers with a curve on it to see if I can get a good grip on it with that and pull that part out of the modulator body hole to see what it is. Do you think thats the spool or a part that the spool fits into? any help would be appreciated as I still haven't solved this mystery. I think I will drop the pan again too just to see if anything is going on in there and if any part or parts have fallen into the pan as MAGNUMKDB suggested above if that is possible. The reason I am so gungho on the modulator part of this is because this tranny worked perfect before I pulled this part off if it. The tranny had a leak that was comming from a bad seal on the modulator and was leaking onto the ground and I got sick of putting more fluid in it every week and well this is where i'm at now. Sounded easy enough at the time. Thanks, dubs66

 

[MAGNUMKDB]

When the fluid gets level with the mod hole it will stop draining. Then you can see inside. I actually just put a long pair of needle nose in the hole and pulled the part (spool) out. It has a hole in the side that faces out for the pin to set into. If you get the needle nose in there and keep them tight against the top of the hole you can grab it. Then be gentle and feel around. Even can wrap a piece of electrical tape of pipe sealer tape on them if you're worried about your doctor abilities (scratching something). If you need a new spool or any other parts you can get them from a transmission parts warehouse. Cheap most of the time. If you have a local tranny shop they might give them to you. Also they can give you good advise (free most of the time) and they have detailed books with pics.

 

[MAGNUMKDB]

Also if you dont figure it out message me on my email so I can call you and maybe be of more help. magnumkdb@yahoo.com

 

[BrooklynBay]

It might be easier to use a locking forceps (hemostat) to pull it out instead of a needle nose plier.

 

[dubs66]

Also if you dont figure it out message me on my email so I can call you and maybe be of more help. magnumkdb@yahoo.com

Thanks much for the offer. I may take you up on that. I plan on doing more on the truck on monday because i'm working all weekend. I really need my ride back soon. I just can't see taking it in to get the tranny fixed at this point when i'm not so sure it's really even that messed up. All I did was pop that modulator off and replaced it w/ a new one but now my truck won't even move till I get it to around 5000 or 6000 rpms and then it makes this grinding noise and shuttering feeling and off I go. NOT GOOD! It happens no matter what gear I start out in including reverse. hmmm

 

[dubs66]

It might be easier to use a locking forceps (hemostat) to pull it out instead of a needle nose plier.

O.k. thanks I'll try that too. I'm just not sure what to do once I get it out. I'll probably just look it over real good and pop it back in and see what happens unless you have something else I could try. I know that Glacier911 said to look at the TV (throttle valve) but I have no idea how or where thats located. I'll keep you updated. Thanks

 

[BrooklynBay]

Here's a picture from Glacier991's photo gallery of the parts behind the modulator:

The first part is the pin. The second part is the new style slide valve, and the last one is the old style (and scratched in the picture).

 

[Mic_]

Could the 'new' modulator be bad?

 

[BrooklynBay]

The new modulator could be tested with a handheld vacuum pump.

 

[dubs66]

Could the 'new' modulator be bad?

Yeah I thought of that too. I tryed putting the old one back in. The old one worked fine it just had a leak at the O ring but I still get the same results. I don't know maybe I should just take the new one back to Auto Zone and exchange it for a new one. I'll try that tommorrow and report back. Thanks for the help guys. dubs66

 

[dubs66]

The new modulator could be tested with a handheld vacuum pump.

Do you think I could test it by pulling it out with the pin in it and start the truck with the modulator still hooked up to the truck and press the pin in and out to see if it sucks the air? Is this worth a try or will it not work. thanks

 

[BrooklynBay]

The pin should move by itself when vacuum is applied.