Re: Stuck in park question

Posted by Tim Cole On 2010/9/14 21:47:47

Dear Paul:

Using big hammers on Packards is not a got idea. Packard is a quality car. For example, today I was behind the wheel of some late model restored car and it took me back to the days when people I knew still owned Packards they'd bought in the 1930's because the Packards drove better than a modern car.

Anyway, why not get some good wheel chocks and carefully raise one of the rear wheels with a jack. I think if you now rock the wheel while someone moves the shifter the Parking Pawl should release.

As for troubleshooting the transmission without a dealer, get a tach/dwell meter into the passenger compartment and accelerate at full throttle in High Range. The motor should turn at around 1600 rpm initially and rise to around 2000 rpm at 50 mph. If it is turning well over 2000 then the unit is slipping. It won't go very far if the high range clutch is slipping. The problem can also be fluid slip inside the converter due to excessive endplay and sloppy fit but most likely the overrunning clutch is freewheeling and thus the car is accelerating on the fluid coupling only.

Finally, UM requires horsepower so if the motor can't rev up to these numbers then do a compression test. You need at least 100 psi for good performance.

Good luck with your car.