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Finished swap but not running great


AKdude

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So I completed my swap and took it out for a test drive last night. I have the a4ld auto trans. When it was all set up in the donor truck, it ran great. Now it shifts really sloppy. The kickdown cable seems too loose since it doesn't even move when the gas pedal is fully down. I tried the self adjusting thing and it barely makes contact. Could that be the cause of the poor shifting? I have to rev the engine up before it engages the gear.

Also there is a tube getting a lot of suction on the back of the engine (pictured below) but I can't figure out what was supposed to plug on it. Idles rough until I plug it. Also backfires a lot when I accelerate.

 


adsm08

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Ok, that tube is a branch of the vacuum tree, it is supposed to have a lot of suction, but it is also supposed to be not open like that. If you can't find anything it plugs into you need to just cap it off.

Do you have a vacuum line hooked up on your vacuum modulator on the trans? That can cause bad shifts if left undone. It's on the passenger side near the rear.
 

AKdude

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I just crawled under and double checked. The vacuum modulator is hooked up. In the pic I posted, it the the tube at the top that curves over the intake, then it hooks into a metal tube.

I also checked the ATF level and it is good to go.
 
SenorNoob

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Cap it. Except for the transmission line (AND BRAKE BOOSTER), you probably wouldn't even notice any of the rest of that not working unless it caused the CEL to come on.
 

AKdude

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I capped it. Still shifts like crap. It is like it can't decide which gear to go in. And still backfires like I'm shooting a machine gun in my neighborhood.
 
PlumCrazy

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Is the fuel pressure gauge hooked up?
 

AKdude

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I don't think I have a gauge for fuel pressure. I'll have to test it later this week.
 
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Sorry...meant regulator not gauge...
 

AKdude

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Oh right. It is hooked up. I should probably test it to make sure it is regulating the pressure anyway.

I put new spark plugs in too while the engine was out. I'll check to make sure I didn't over tighten them and double check the gaps.
 
Last edited:
bobbywalter

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sounds like you crossed some spark plug wires to me as well....unless the wires were damaged.
 
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