Hoo boy. Where to start ...
First, there are O/D gurus on the List, I'll let them give specifics but,
basically, diagnosing O/D problems--at least half of them are actually in the
electrics (like carburetors)--has to be systematic; i.e. start with pump
pressure, etc.
Couple of obvious things:
- How did you test "the dash switch always lit the test light, even when the OD
failed to engage?" You'd have to do that while driving (no O/D oil pressure==no
engage)
- " When I'm parked, I can move the shifter from neutral to 3rd/4th and always
hear the solenoid click in and out." You're hearing the 3rd/4th 'lockout'
switch--one possible cause of your problem--not the solenoid
- "Usually flicking the switch several times would eventually result in the OD
engaging. " Bad dash switch will behave like this.
I've installed several dash switches over the years, and the O/D relay will go
intermittent sooner or later (you can open them up and clean the points if
you're careful). FWIW, my original solenoid has 170K miles and still works
fine.
The 'green book' (Bentley reprint of the shop manual) has a procedure for
diagnosing the electricals that is actually pretty good.
bs
--------------------------------
Bob Spidell - San Jose, CA
Greetings Healeyphiles,
I drive a '65 BJ8 with an OD rebuilt ten years ago. At that time, the
solenoid was replaced. Over the past ten years, the OD would occasionally fail
to engage when the dash switch was activated. Usually flicking the switch
several times would eventually result in the OD engaging. I thought the problem
must be in the electric circuitry so over the years, I have replaced all the
components except the solenoid. The OD functioned perfectly for the past 2000
miles or so until last week when it began failing to engage and got rapidly
worse until I was unable to activate the OD except by turning off the engine
and
then restarting. The dash switch would then activate the OD only once and if I
flicked it out of OD, it would not reengage if I again activated the dash
switch. I finally connected a test light to the solenoid. Don't ask why I
didn't
do that years ago. The test light showed that the electrical circuit was intact
and that depressing the dash switch always lit the test light, even when the OD
failed to engage. When I'm parked, I can move the shifter from neutral to
3rd/4th and always hear the solenoid click in and out. The fluid level (30wt
oil) in the transmission is adequate. So wherein lies the problem? Do I need a
new solenoid, readjust the solenoid, or another OD rebuild? Thanks for any
advice.
rich antal
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