So... I get my truck back from the header install, and a couple of days later, I come up with an interesting (possible) side-effect.

The kick-down cable is VERY stiff. i.e., if you push on the thin right pedal, then it takes a LOT of force to make it go down.

Looking at it from the perspective of under the hood, there is so much resistance in the kick-down cable, that once it's pulled out of the sheath, then it won't go back for a _long_ time... Usually after the engine being run for 30 minutes, then completely cooling.

I've been under the truck and there's nothing visibly kinked. The folks that did the header install ran the cable on the OUTSIDE of the driver's side header and that may have put a lot of strain on the cable. I re-routed the cable to have more slack in it, but it hasn't helped.

The tranny is shifting fine. Normal ups, kick-downs, and cruising.

I don't _really_ know if the header install is related or not - I only bring it up because it happened about a day after getting the truck back.

Something else that may or may not be related is that I installed a tranny cooler two weeks ago. There are no signs of fluid leaks, and the new cooler _is_ passing fluid.

Any ideas? Right now, I have the cable disconnected so as to not strain it any more than it has been.


Thanks!

 

Maybe a couple of drops of oil might help- maybe its just crap built up inside the sheath over time?

 

I've shot some WD40 down the cable, but it didn't seem to help. It may just take a long while to seep all the way down.

Thanks David.

 

Hey Mark,

Does the jacket look like it got a little too hot in any way? If so, then it's possible that the sheathing melted a bit and is causing the cable to bind inside of it. I think they owe you a new kick-down cable since the problem started AFTER They mis-routed the cable...

My .02
G

 

Dr. Z has your answer. I have Downey headers on my Runner and have had the same problem now for almost a year. The cable is too close to the headers and the heat is melting the cable jacket. It re-hardens when the engine cools down, so when you get back into the vehicle, it's really stiff. The dealership offered to re-route the cable for me, but the amount of $ they wanted was ridiculous. I just ordered some header wrap the other day to try to reduce the heat coming off of them. Hopefully that will fix the problem.

 

Any ideas? Right now, I have the cable disconnected so as to not strain it any more than it has been.


Thanks![/QUOTE]
with the kickdown (TV Cable) unhooked you are liable to burn up your third and fourth clutch packs.

 

with the kickdown (TV Cable) unhooked you are liable to burn up your third and fourth clutch packs.[/QUOTE]

Let me re phrase that, you WILL burn them up. Your obviously heating up the cable and it's causing friction. Instead of putting heat wrap around the headers or manifold, put it around the cable or simply re route it.