# 1980 Pontiac Firebird not shifing out of second **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [August 29, 2019, 11:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1980-pontiac-firebird-not-shifing-out-of-second/147773 "2019-08-29T23:29:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dogon2u\_156847](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@dogon2u\_156847](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dogon2u_156847)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 11:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1980-pontiac-firebird-not-shifing-out-of-second/147773/1 "2019-08-29T23:29:54Z")
I have a 1980 Firebird. I replaced the plugs, wires, Distributor cap and rotor. It was shifting fine before I replaced these now it will not shift out of second. Is it possible I did something or just a coincidence? ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 11:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1980-pontiac-firebird-not-shifing-out-of-second/147773/2 "2019-08-29T23:32:13Z")
Replacing secondary ignition components shouldn’t have any effect on the transmission operation. Have you checked the level/color/odor of the transmission fluid? Tester ---
**Author:** ![dogon2u\_156847](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@dogon2u\_156847](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dogon2u_156847)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 11:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1980-pontiac-firebird-not-shifing-out-of-second/147773/3 "2019-08-29T23:34:44Z")
Yep first thing I did. I checked it level and idling and it shows just a quarter inch below full. Not to the add a pint yet. color is red not brown. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 12:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1980-pontiac-firebird-not-shifing-out-of-second/147773/4 "2019-08-30T00:11:25Z")
My 80 Grand Prix w/301 had a birds nest of tubes/wires/ducts on top of motor. I wonder what you left unplugged? ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 1:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1980-pontiac-firebird-not-shifing-out-of-second/147773/5 "2019-08-30T01:57:55Z")
Just a guess, line to transmission vacuum modulator off. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 2:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1980-pontiac-firebird-not-shifing-out-of-second/147773/6 "2019-08-30T02:12:47Z")
> [@Purebred](#): > > vacuum modulator Something like that seems a likely guess. On some automatics of that era — don’t know if this applies to a Firebird — there’s an throttle position input to the transmission that uses a cable. If applicable make sure that cable is doing its job. The other common input to an transmission are the vehicle speed and the intake manifold vacuum vacuum. If the transmission is getting all its inputs and refusing to shift from 2nd to 3rd, got to think there’s a problem with the transmission at that point, coincidence, unrelated to the recent work done. Dropping & cleaning the pan, replacing the filter, and filling w/fresh fluid would be where I’d start. ---
**Author:** ![dogon2u\_156847](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@dogon2u\_156847](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dogon2u_156847)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 2:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1980-pontiac-firebird-not-shifing-out-of-second/147773/7 "2019-08-30T02:59:25Z")
I will look for a vacuum line off in the AM sounds like it could be it. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 3:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1980-pontiac-firebird-not-shifing-out-of-second/147773/8 "2019-08-30T03:06:54Z")
From what I’m seeing for the 1982 Firebird at least, no info here for 1980 version, but on the 1982 the automatic trans doesn’t use a vacuum modulator. Uses the throttle cable input method. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 3:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1980-pontiac-firebird-not-shifing-out-of-second/147773/9 "2019-08-30T03:17:07Z")
[https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=45218&cc=1250648&jsn=442](https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=45218&cc=1250648&jsn=442) Tester ---
**Author:** ![old\_mopar\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6bbea6/32.png) [@old\_mopar\_guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/old_mopar_guy)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2019, 3:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1980-pontiac-firebird-not-shifing-out-of-second/147773/10 "2019-08-31T03:05:40Z")
Or a leak.in the vacuum line to the modulator ---
**Author:** ![dogon2u\_156847](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@dogon2u\_156847](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dogon2u_156847)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2019, 3:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1980-pontiac-firebird-not-shifing-out-of-second/147773/11 "2019-08-31T03:11:13Z")
Thanks all, it was a vacuum line I bumped off. ---
**Author:** ![old\_mopar\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6bbea6/32.png) [@old\_mopar\_guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/old_mopar_guy)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2019, 3:28am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1980-pontiac-firebird-not-shifing-out-of-second/147773/12 "2019-08-31T03:28:41Z")
Hey buddy, how do I get this car, out of second gear? ( Beep beep, beep beep, his horn went beep, beep, beep) ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2019, 3:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1980-pontiac-firebird-not-shifing-out-of-second/147773/13 "2019-08-31T03:43:05Z")
Tester ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2019, 1:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1980-pontiac-firebird-not-shifing-out-of-second/147773/14 "2019-08-31T13:36:00Z")
had a modulator rupture and started sucking trans fluid into intake.