The term “passing gear” is more appropriate to describe the kickdown feature found on General Motors vehicles equipped with the Turbo 350 automatic transmission.
A cable connected to the transmission will pull back to shift to the next lower gear when the engine’s throttle lever is pulled back by another cable as you hit the accelerator pedal.
For the kickdown function to work properly, these two cables must be coordinated with each other.
We will assist you to know how to adjust kickdown cable TH350 with some basic auto repair expertise in this article.
Let’s start now!
What Is TH350 Kickdown Cable?
The kickdown line is the element that facilitates communication between the two powertrains.
This mechanism effectively signals the automatic transmission when it’s time to shift gears by helping the engine transmit revolutions per minute (RPM) information to the transmission.
The TH350, the Ford C4 and C6 GM, Powerglide, and TH400 transmissions all use vacuum modulators.
To kick down the gearbox into a lower gear when the vacuum is high or simply for passing, these “vacuum modulator-supported” gearboxes will use a transmission kickdown cable (or an electrical switch).
The cable or lever will activate the kickdown valve in the transmission, given that there is a sudden WOT (wide-open throttle) while driving at a constant speed on the highway.
Sign To Adjust Kickdown Cable TH350
Turbo 350 kickdown cable adjustment is inevitable if you spot one (or more) of these signs.
Difficult Transition
It’s usually not a good pointer when the automatic transmission shifts so hard (or sometimes delays shifting when accelerating) that you feel the steering wheel jerk.
This symptom usually occurs due to low fluid, oil leakage, or low transmission fluid pressure. However, a damaged or worn kickdown cable is another potential culprit.
When it is necessary to change gears, it will be difficult if the cables are not aligned or loose. Driving hard with the automatic transmission shifting up and down a lot can destroy the wires.
Shifter cables and other transmission components are more susceptible to damage as the transmission experiences more vibrations and jerks while driving at constant speed.
Fast And Early Gear Shifting
When switching to the next gear feels like a tick, a skilled transmission technician should check a few things inside the car.
This red light usually appears because the kickdown cable is damaged or twisted.
There is always the possibility that the transmission kickdown cable will be likely to malfunction when the vehicle shifts to another gear quickly.
Worse yet, it can also take a toll on the engine’s drive shaft, input shaft, and flywheel.
To avoid further damage to other components in the engine bay, contact a mechanic as soon as you see this sign.
Inefficient Transmission Line
Conversely, slow or delayed transmission can also result from kickdown cable problems.
The cable in this situation is often stretched, slowing down the displacement, and we suggest adjusting TH350 kickdown cable.
Similar to the warning signal above, this problem can affect the functionality of other expensive parts, including the drive shaft and the engine flywheel.
When you observe any of these symptoms, you must contact a trusted neighborhood mechanic who has deep insights into automatic transmissions.
You can replace a damaged or worn kickdown cable yourself. However, the transmission line may have to be rebuilt if the cable breaks.
How To Adjust The Kickdown Cable TH350
There are 9 steps in how to adjust kick down cable that you must understand in order to practice successfully:
Step 1: Park the car safely, turn off the engine and wait for the vehicle to cool down. Remember to disconnect the battery’s negative (-) terminal and apply the emergency brake.
Step 2: Remove the carburetor engine air filter. To do this, manually turn the wing nut on the top of the air cleaner shield counterclockwise.
Step 3: Pinpoint the throttle lever of the carburetor. When viewed from the front, the lever is on the right, the throttle cable is on top, and the kickdown cable is at the bottom and is firmly attached to the lever.
Step 4: Use the adjustable wrench to remove the kickdown cable’s lock. Two or three counterclockwise turns of the nut are required.
Step 5: Have your assistant fully press down and keep the gas pedal on the car’s floor.
Step 6: Using a pair of combined pliers to rotate the kickdown cable’s steel shoulder.
Make any necessary final adjustments by keeping the throttle open as wide as possible and tightening the internal lines down securely.
Next is adjusting kickdown cable TH350 by turning it counterclockwise until it is fully stretched with only a little slack. Alter the coupling, then tighten the Allen set screw.
When the starting mode is set up correctly, there will be no slack in the kickdown cable, and you can open the throttle to the extended position.
Step 7: Use an adjustable wrench to tighten the lock clockwise. After that, inspect the slack again to ensure the kickdown cable is set correctly.
Once the cable is fully configured and operational, you can trim excess lines.
Step 8: Change the air filter, tighten the wing by hand clockwise and close the hood.
Step 9: Operate the vehicle to check that the down pedal mechanism is working properly.
Note: Do not remove the braided cover from your drive tube.
General Installation Notes For The Kickdown Cable TH350
- Before starting the installation, please read the entire instructions carefully. Call for customer support or contact an auto repair shop in your area if you have any questions or are unable to adjust.
- Never attempt to kickdown cable TH350 install or modify a Throttle Kit while the engine is running. Make sure that the body, engine, and frame are properly grounded.
- Before doing the task, we recommend applying an anticonvulsant lubricant to all aluminum threads. While handling the cable, be careful not to over-tighten it.
- Use a diagonal cutter, Lineman pliers, or a small toothed hacksaw to cut the shell.
Conclusion
Kickdown cables are prone to loosening or damage like any other connections under your hood.
Once you detect some shifting issues, check the cable soon.We hope that this post was helpful to you in understanding how to adjust a kickdown cable.
Thank you for reading!