I purchased a 1980 928 3 speed (USA) last March as a hobby car. I always wanted a Porsche and have always had a desire to restore a care, so when I found this 928 only a few miles away, I couldn't pass it up. Up until I purchased the car, I did not even change my own oil, so needless to say, I have been learning a lot.

The car was not road worthy when I got it. From March until August, I spent time much of my free time repairing steering, brakes, suspension, exhaust, and performing standard maintenance. Since August I have been enjoying a few drives and tinkering with the cars performance. This post is my first. Thank you to all who has posted and replied on this forum. I have found answers and how-to's for all my questions.

So here's my issue. At WOT, the car shifts from 1st to 2nd at 3,000 RPM and then from 2nd to 3rd around 2,800 rpm (sometime almost immediately). Sometimes there is a bit of flaring between 2nd and 3rd. Once in gear, it stays in gear. It downshifts, but I have no kick down. I started by changing the fluid and filter. I used Dexron III. The fluid was a bit low, as I do have a few leaks. The fluid color was a bit dark, but did not smell burnt. The pan was very clean. I fixed several leaks when I changed the fluid, but the torque converter seal is still leaking. I believe I have the fluid at the correct level, though it has been rather cold and I managed to dump a bunch of fluid on the garage floor when the hose came out of the filler neck, so I do not have a good measurement of how much I have added.
As for the kick down, I found the arm was not engaging the button, so I adjusted the pedal and it is now engaging (I hear the clicking when I push the button).

I went for a drive. The shifting was smoother, but the shifting pattern has not changed and I still have no kick down. The throttle cable seemed to be the next logical area to review. I had someone depress the gas pedal and I watched the lever at the transmission. The lever appeared to have a full range of motion; however, the throttle cable seems loose, particularly at the throttle body. I decided I would adjust it, but I don’t understand how the lever adjusts. The lever seems to have two arms that move relative to each other when clamping bolt B is loosened. Adjusting bolt A seems to only connect the lever to the transmission. Here is a picture of the lever. Is my lever set up correctly? How does A adjust the lever? Is there a wire that holds the ball in place?

 

Page 37-14 in the manual. Lever should travel 33mm from closed to WOT, but NOT kickdown. Note that the book says not to tighten bolt B against the internal stop! Adjust so that cable just connects with no tension or free play. There are 2 levers there clamped to each other by bolt B, relationship depends on bolt A adjustment. Since the cable from throttle is coming from the right in your pic, attached to top of lever, the location of your spring does not match that in the manual - yours looks like it might be pulling the bottom of the lever to the left, which doesnt look right to me.
jp 83 Euro S AT 56k, also 3 speed.

 

Thanks. I had not noticed the spring location differing from the workshop manual. I'll check and see if I have a hook on the inside of the lever.

The connection for the spring on the lever seems to match the PET, but the WSM always shows the spring connection on the inside of the lever. I have attached a picture from both. Does anyone know if this varied by MY or US vs ROW?

Also, should the adjusting bolt touch the lever. Mine has a gap.

 

Logically it should touch to make any adjustment, but I have no recollection of that much detail. I think your early upchanges will be due to the cable being too loose. Mine was not that bad, but not right. Initially I tried adjusting something in the cable outer in the engine bay, but that went way too far in the other direction, so I had to make the same adjustment you are working on. Now it will hold 2nd out to at least 5k, which is well into speeding ticket territory. I would try measuring the travel of the lever ball joint with the cable disconnected, and connected, and verify that you are getting throttle fully opened.
jp 83 Euro S AT 56k

 

Ok. That makes more sense. Hopefully I can find some time this weekend to make the adjustment.

 

OK, so it has only been a month. I finally worked on the cable adjustment today. The lever is totally gummed up. I have a couple questions:

1. How the heck do I get the cable socket removed from the ball? I don't see a retaining pin. Am I not prying hard enough? I've used a flat head screwdriver. I don't want to damage the cable.

2. The spacer washer and locking washer are missing that show on as parts 44 and 45 in the PET, but I don't see them in the WSM picture. It seems like 34 and 59 clamp it tight to the AT lever. Do I need these?