Messages

1

General Buick Tech / Re: Trans shifter would not shift trans

« on: October 04 2021, 03:14:26 PM »

Update to close out this thread.  Installation of new cable was straight forward and relatively easy.  I did have open up the hole on the floor shifter end about a 0.6mm to fit over the shaft but new cable works well - thanks gnonyx!   
Now to fix my ghost horn issue that popped up...

2

General Buick Tech / Re: Trans shifter would not shift trans

« on: October 03 2021, 08:13:43 AM »

Thank you both. I already removed the shifter handle and console so the cable replacement sounds pretty straight forward. Lube is always good! 

3

General Auto Tech / Re: nocooler's firechicken thread

« on: October 01 2021, 08:16:48 AM »

Looking awesome!  You could run a repair shop outa there. Congrats.

4

General Buick Tech / Re: Trans shifter would not shift trans

« on: October 01 2021, 08:06:39 AM »

Thank you gnonyx! Ordered it from Amazon and it should arrive tomorrow. 

Was installation straight forward - does cable go from trans outer manual lever to shifter or does the steering column come into play?

5

General Buick Tech / Re: Trans shifter would not shift trans

« on: September 30 2021, 03:11:34 PM »

Well I finally got tired of shifting with the column and took the floor console off to see what's going on.  The shifter cable came apart.  See pic. 

Is there a repair procedure you guys have used?  I cut some of the plastic sheathing off and the steel cable sheathing does fits back into the plastic retainer.  Was thinking I could clamp the retainer over the cable or run a set-screw in through the retainer to hold the steel sheathing?  Or is best bet to find a new cable?  Thanks!

6

General Buick Tech / Re: Trans shifter would not shift trans

« on: August 19 2021, 12:22:15 PM »

Got home ok. Found out I can rotate the steering column collar to change gears so didn’t have to crawl under car for reverse out of parking space and put into D.  Found out my park brakes still work!  Thanks

7

General Buick Tech / Trans shifter would not shift trans

« on: August 19 2021, 11:03:27 AM »

Hi guys.

I can press shifter button and pull shifter rearward to engage R,N,D etc like normal but when I push forward, the shifter handle moves but does not change gears and no tension/force felt in shifter handle.

Looking under vehicle, the levers and outer manual trans lever all look good. I can move the Trans outer lever manually by hand to shift back to N, R,P.

What’s wrong?  Is the shifter under the center floor console become disconnected?
This is happening at an auto shop where I’m sitting waiting for AC recharge right now.

Thanks.

8

General Buick Tech / Re: Powermaster issues

« on: January 20 2021, 11:04:18 PM »

On 12/23 posting, I said I went through over 72 Oz of Dot 4 fluid.  Maybe there isn’t much in the booster but the booster rod seal was wet and a small pool of fluid at 6’oclock below the seal on the booster lip where it should never be.

The booster with new good check valve failed Test 1 where the pedal kept sinking well past 1/4” to the floor.  It also failed Test 3 where the pedal rose pushing my foot up and up like the video I attached.  I’m not getting the power assist needed to depress the pedal quick enough for sudden stop or subsequent pedal apply with assist, then this also points to booster function, right?  If 15lb engine vacuum is enough and within normal range given my cam and oversized valves. I’ll recheck for vacuum leaks.

9

General Buick Tech / Re: Powermaster issues

« on: January 20 2021, 08:21:35 PM »

Hey Jeremy, go play with your new Milwaukee Powertools or bring them over here - we can cut some NEW parts up!

10

General Buick Tech / Re: Powermaster issues

« on: January 20 2021, 04:28:35 PM »

Thanks TexasT. I hear you. I may look for better brand of booster and m/c. Right now I don’t know who manufactured or rebuilt the booster I bought.  Thanks.

11

General Buick Tech / Re: Powermaster issues

« on: January 19 2021, 08:41:51 PM »

The literature that came with the booster in the Vacuum Conversion Kit states 1/16”-1/4” play/clearance at the pedal which I verified and matches what Ed and Steve said.  Should I take the m/c apart from the booster to check the clearances between the booster intermediate push rod and master cylinder piston?  If the clearance is too large I would have excessive pedal travel which I do not have.  If too short, I wouldn’t have the clearances at the pedal, right?  I recall seeing the end of the booster push rod was ground down so I believe the eBay seller of the kit set the length for this booster and Cardone m/c.  Can you please confirm EarlBrown?

I did get a chance to check out the brake on my wet driveway.  Even with the new, good check valve, the brakes are too hard to push quickly, and it take tools long for the booster to recharge for subsequent push, like when needed to pump the brakes.  So I retested the booster with the tests Steve provided the link for and it fails.  Here is a youtube video that shows a failed Booster similar to my results.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaUPC8TjzWA

Question is why did the booster fail - is it full of fluid from the 1st m/c rear leak or is the booster seal defective sucking fluid past the secondarily seal in the m/c? Scroll to bottom of this article http://www.agcoauto.com/content/news/p2_articleid/129

After the few short trials in the driveway, I see this leak between the new m/c and booster (again).

Any thoughts, other than I may need a new booster and a new m/c? 

12

General Buick Tech / Re: Powermaster issues

« on: January 16 2021, 08:42:51 PM »

Thanks Ed and Steve. Appreciate your advise.

The master cylinder, proportioning valve, wheel cylinders, calipers and are working well.  Changed out the front rubber flex hoses with s/steel as well. Rear brakes are adjusted and not hanging on a frozen emergency brake cable. 

Will recheck the non-adjustable booster push rod free play but it was not good when checked after the new pedal pin was drilled/installed. So vacuum should be equal on both sides of the diaphragm with Booster internal valve fully open, until pedal pressure is applied 

Please recall I noted the pedal seemed hard to press on fast stop and the idle rpm was changing as I pressed on the brake and it felt differently from PM system. That’s when Steve said it was not correct and maybe the booster or check valve was not working. Turned out to be a bad check valve. Now I just replaced it again today and need to try driving/braking. The booster does hold vacuum after Engine off 6 minutes and air rushes into booster when I remove the check valve. RPMs remain steady at idle now too.  Good signs. Hoping weather dries out a bit so I can test on driveway or get past first road onto main roads.

Thanks again.

13

General Buick Tech / Re: Powermaster issues

« on: January 15 2021, 11:22:18 PM »

Yes agree with everything you said Steve. Blowing from booster side or sucking from engine side, the check valve I received from the vacuum conversion kit is bad. The Cardone M/C I got had issues bench bleeding the secondary port - hardly flowed fluid during bench bleed. The proportioning valve I bought separately would not turn off the dash brake light. Only thing I haven’t replaced yet is the booster and not sure if it’s bad or not yet.  I have to drive it or buy a vacuum pump....

14

General Buick Tech / Re: Powermaster issues

« on: January 15 2021, 07:54:16 PM »

Update: I ordered an $27 AC Delco booster check valve with a 2 year warranty. Tired of bad parts out of the box. It finally came and it flows real easy when I blow through it but the hose end is too large in diameter for the hose.

SO I then bought a Dorman off the help shelve carried at Advanced and Autozone. t’s hard to blow through the valve - nothing close to the AC Delco.  Doesn’t feel right when installed, or the booster is bad; feels lethargic on subsequent brake pedal applies.  I hope the booster is good but can’t drive the car with all this snow.

I keep thinking it woulda been so much easier just getting a rebuilt Powermaster but wanted to put an end to brake issues. It’s not a difficult conversion if parts were all good. Oh, The 89 Pontiac Turbo Trans Am check valve also has a larger nipple and 86 Regal V8 check valve does not show up at Advanced. The saga continues and I’m done venting. Thanks for listening.

15

General Buick Tech / Re: Powermaster issues

« on: January 05 2021, 02:04:24 PM »

Ed Baker!  Great to see you are still actively engaged. Trust all is well.  Thank you.