While we are talking about Overdrives and solenoids and what not . . .
I recently FINALLY replaced the burnt out OD solenoid on my car.
I also cut an access hole in the fiberglass tunnel and installed the
solenoid with some socket head cap screws.
The theory is that I can actually perform this operation again in the future
without removing the tunnel.
Also . . having taken such precautions will hopefully mean I never have to
use them. (sort of a corollary to Murphy's law?)
Anyway . . . I don't know why in the heck the old Solenoid gave out.
It worked for quite a while before deciding to give up the ghost on the way
back home from a trip across state to look at a TR for sale.
While driving down the road, it suddenly dropped in and out of OD a few
times and then stayed out all together.
An under the car inspection revealed that something was blocking the metal
plunger from pulling fully into its bore.
Forward several months later to last week when I finally replaced the thing
and I can see that some white plastic (looks like nylon) melted and dripped
down into the solenoid bore and formed a stalactite.
Once hardened, the stalactite kept the plunger from coming all the way up
and shutting off the high amperage "pull" circuit.
This promptly fried the sucker pretty well.
At least that's how I take it things happened. There could be some other
possibilities.
I haven't totally dissected it yet .. but I'm wondering if the melted
plastic wasn't the actual rod that activates the cutout when the plunger
reaches the top of the bore.
I also wonder what caused it to melt.
Of course I'm assuming the stalactite was the cause of the cutout not
opening, and not the result of it.
I've installed an inline fuse in the circuit . .but I don't know if it is
sized correctly or is the right type.
I guess what I'd like to have is something that will allow a momentary
(fraction of a second) surge of high current (20amps?) for the pull circuit
and also hold up under the low current (2 amps?) holding circuit.
So if there was a fault of some sort that caused more than a second or two
of current above the low value. . the fuse would blow.
Anyone been there done that and want to share the specifics of what they
installed with me?
I've put two photos in my msn photos page of the solenoid for those who are
interested.
It is pretty mangled due to my disassembly . .. but it is there if you want
the reference.
The link is:
http://tinyurl.com/7cei <http://tinyurl.com/7cei>
Scott Tilton
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