'84 Dodge 600 Acceleration problem

On Sat, 27 Nov 2004, Steve wrote:

> I bought a used 1984 Dodge 600SE w/ automatic transmission recently.
> When I test drove it, everything seemed fine. It accelerated fine and
> kicked into passing gear properly. Now it accelerates smoothly but
> slowly. It will not accelerate quickly enough to use the passing gear.
> Although it accelerates slowly, the transmission seems to shift properly
> through the gears. I noticed that the gas pedal is all the way to the
> floor. Attempting to push harder on the gas pedal causes the
> transmission to shift into neutral. Is it possible that the throttle
> cable is stretched?

Sounds like one or more worn-out engine/trans mount(s), to have affected
both the throttle *and* transmission linkage at the same time. After
verifying all the engine and trans mounts are intact and in good shape
(not sagged, no missing chunks of rubber), then look at the possibility of
a broken or hanging throttle/kickdown cable *bracket* near the throttle
linkage.

Which engine have you got in your '84?

On Sat, 27 Nov 2004, Steve wrote:

> I bought a used 1984 Dodge 600SE w/ automatic transmission recently.
> When I test drove it, everything seemed fine. It accelerated fine and
> kicked into passing gear properly. Now it accelerates smoothly but
> slowly. It will not accelerate quickly enough to use the passing gear.
> Although it accelerates slowly, the transmission seems to shift properly
> through the gears. I noticed that the gas pedal is all the way to the
> floor. Attempting to push harder on the gas pedal causes the
> transmission to shift into neutral. Is it possible that the throttle
> cable is stretched?

Sounds like one or more worn-out engine/trans mount(s), to have affected
both the throttle *and* transmission linkage at the same time. After
verifying all the engine and trans mounts are intact and in good shape
(not sagged, no missing chunks of rubber), then look at the possibility of
a broken or hanging throttle/kickdown cable *bracket* near the throttle
linkage.

Which engine have you got in your '84?

Thanks Daniel for responding.

It looks like it is the motor mounts. When shifting from Park all the
way down to Low 1, you can see excessive movement in the front mount
and the entire engine shift position.

Something I hadn't noticed before is that when you are in Low 1, the
gas pedal has no movement. In Low 2 you've got enough movement to get
the car drifting forward. I'm guessing this all has to do with the
excessive play in the motor mounts.

I'll start at that point and go from there.

Thanks again,

Steve

"Daniel J. Stern" > wrote in message n.umich.edu>...
> On Sat, 27 Nov 2004, Steve wrote:
>
> > I bought a used 1984 Dodge 600SE w/ automatic transmission recently.
> > When I test drove it, everything seemed fine. It accelerated fine and
> > kicked into passing gear properly. Now it accelerates smoothly but
> > slowly. It will not accelerate quickly enough to use the passing gear.
> > Although it accelerates slowly, the transmission seems to shift properly
> > through the gears. I noticed that the gas pedal is all the way to the
> > floor. Attempting to push harder on the gas pedal causes the
> > transmission to shift into neutral. Is it possible that the throttle
> > cable is stretched?
>
> Sounds like one or more worn-out engine/trans mount(s), to have affected
> both the throttle *and* transmission linkage at the same time. After
> verifying all the engine and trans mounts are intact and in good shape
> (not sagged, no missing chunks of rubber), then look at the possibility of
> a broken or hanging throttle/kickdown cable *bracket* near the throttle
> linkage.
>
> Which engine have you got in your '84?

Thanks Daniel for responding.

It looks like it is the motor mounts. When shifting from Park all the
way down to Low 1, you can see excessive movement in the front mount
and the entire engine shift position.

Something I hadn't noticed before is that when you are in Low 1, the
gas pedal has no movement. In Low 2 you've got enough movement to get
the car drifting forward. I'm guessing this all has to do with the
excessive play in the motor mounts.

I'll start at that point and go from there.

Thanks again,

Steve

"Daniel J. Stern" > wrote in message n.umich.edu>...
> On Sat, 27 Nov 2004, Steve wrote:
>
> > I bought a used 1984 Dodge 600SE w/ automatic transmission recently.
> > When I test drove it, everything seemed fine. It accelerated fine and
> > kicked into passing gear properly. Now it accelerates smoothly but
> > slowly. It will not accelerate quickly enough to use the passing gear.
> > Although it accelerates slowly, the transmission seems to shift properly
> > through the gears. I noticed that the gas pedal is all the way to the
> > floor. Attempting to push harder on the gas pedal causes the
> > transmission to shift into neutral. Is it possible that the throttle
> > cable is stretched?
>
> Sounds like one or more worn-out engine/trans mount(s), to have affected
> both the throttle *and* transmission linkage at the same time. After
> verifying all the engine and trans mounts are intact and in good shape
> (not sagged, no missing chunks of rubber), then look at the possibility of
> a broken or hanging throttle/kickdown cable *bracket* near the throttle
> linkage.
>
> Which engine have you got in your '84?