Dean, as far as the solenoid goes, apply 12 volts to it for a simple test.
You will hear it click. However, I think there is one option you are
leaving out, The switch on your shifter, have you tested it yet. From my
experience these work very sporadic when they start to go. rebuilding one
is quite easy. Hope I helped.
Patrick
At 03:34 PM 3/1/99 -0000, Dean Dashwood wrote:
>Hello list!
>
>Recently, the J-type overdrive on my Spitfire stopped working - it
>wouldn't engage. So I checked the Haynes manual which said that the
>likely causes are low gearbox oil, faulty wires and faulty solenoid. So
>I checked the wires on the switch - and as I took the switch off, all
>the wiring fell apart! Ok, I thought, that's the problem. So I
>re-wired the switch, and it worked - for about 3 days, then it stopped
>again.
>
>I checked the wires in the switch - still good, so I decided to take off
>the gearbox tunnel and check out the rest of the wiring. Again, it fell
>apart as soon as I touched it. So I sorted all that out, checked the
>gearbox oil while I was there (it was fine) and put everything back
>together again, expecting the problem to be cured. But it still doesn't
>work!
>
>Seems like I might need to replace the solenoid. But solenoids don't
>come cheap, and I'd like to know that this is what's wrong before I
>cough up the cash.
>
>Does anyone know how to test a solenoid? Is this a really stupid
>question - is it obvious whether it's working or not? I have absolutely
>no idea, and Haynes does an excellent job of completely avoiding the
>issue!
>
>I'd appreciate any advice anyone has!
>
>Cheers,
>
>Dean Dashwood
>'77 Spit 1500 (doing 4000rpm on the motorway)
>
>
Patrick Bowen
'79 Spitfire
Jacksonville FL
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