Car doesn't shift out of overdrive when bringing car to a stop.

[Deleted User]

Hi Folks,
I finally got the top installed on my 51 pacemaker convertible and now I'm trying to put some miles on it to get it ready for the San Mateo meet.

I am having issues with the overdrive. It works great until I have driven the car about 50 miles. After about 50 miles of driving, when I bring the car to a stop it stays in overdrive. Also while I am sitting stopped at the intersection if I try to put the car in reverse it won't go into reverse. After being stopped at the intersection I start moving forward again in 1st gear. At this point if I hit the kickdown switch with the accelerator, the transmission will go out of overdrive.

I think what might be happening is that after the car has warmed up enough the corks on the clutch plate swell up. The swollen corks then cause the clutch to still drag a little when the clutch pedal is pushed in. This drag causes a side load on the pawl that is engaged in the sun gear plate. Now, even though the pawl is trying to disengage from the sun gear plate it can't because the side load on it won't let it. I also noticed that as soon as I turn the engine off I hear a click and
then it is out of overdrive. Does this sound plausible or are there other reasons why it isn't going out of overdrive? I have had the governor, relay, and solenoid out of the car and tested them as best I know how. They all seem to be in good shape . Thanks for any light you guys can shed on this problem. Rob

Jon B

Isn't the electric governor responsible for shifting out of overdrive when you slow down to a particular speed? (I really don't know about the newfangled overdrives; mine is of the prehistoric type, whereby the governor was centrifugal.)

Someone will jump in here with the "right" answer, but you might check your electrical connections at the governor, just for grins. (check the connections not only at the governor but at whatever gizmo it connects to, as well)

Park_W

Sounds like the wire leading to the OD governor may be touching the frame somewhere. Take a close look at it. That the kickdown will fix it suggests this "accidental ground" is between the kickdown and the governor, i.e. kickdown to reverse lockout switch or lockout switch to governor.

DocHornet

Yes, I would check, perhaps even replace the wiring between the governor and the OD solenoid.. I guess it is also possible that the internal guts of the governor are gummed up, and the contacts to ground are sticking on even at low RPM.

You could confirm if it is the governor in question by temporarily installing a switch between the governor and solenoid.. leave it on while driving, but if it fails to downshift at slower speed, turn the switch off and see if that solves the problem, There are a number of other tests you can perform, right out of the manual:

FAILS TO SHIFT OUT OF OVERDRIVE BELOW 16-21
M. P. H.
CAUTION: If this condition actually exists car will not
roll backward and any attempt to force it to do so may
seriously damage the overdrive unit itself.
A. Check for this condition by rolling the car backward by
hand with the gear shift lever in neutral. If it will roll forward
but not backward, disconnect the wires at No. 4 terminal of
solenoid and loosen the solenoid and loosen the solenoid
mounting screws. If this does not unlock the transmission,
remove the mounting screws completely and pull straight out
on solenoid to disengage the solenoid pawl from slot in the
overdrive stationary gear.
If solenoid pulls free from transmission in this operation
without having been rotated 1/4 turn, indicates that the
solenoid was improperly Installed (solenoid stem was not
engaging pawl). See Condition No. 4 "Improper Installation
of Solenoid".

Remove solenoid cover and see if solenoid stem has been
forced past upper contact spring. Check pawl for release;
if pawl cannot be withdrawn freely from engagement, or
if the car cannot be pushed forward by hand, with one of
the forward transmission speeds engaged, the solenoid
unit has probably been damaged internally and must be
repaired or replaced. If no such damage is apparent and
the solenoid Installation appears proper, the solenoid
itself may be sticking. If car will roll backward -
B. Push overdrive dash control knob in, disconnect wire
from "A" terminal of generator and momentarily connect
loose end to negative post of battery by means of a
jumper. If overdrive relay and solenoid do not click,
follow procedure at E. If click occurs it indicates a circuit
ground between the relay and the governor or within the
relay or governor.
C. Pull overdrive dash control knob out and again momentarily
connect loose end of generator "A" terminal wire
to the negative post of battery. If no click occurs
grounded circuit is indicated between the control switch
and governor or within the governor; follow procedure E
and F. If click occurs -
D. Hold kickdown switch open,either by pressing the accelerator
pedal to the floor, or by pressing the kickdown
switch stem by hand,and momentarily connect loose end
of generator "A" wire to negative post of battery. If no
click occurs; a grounded circuit is indicated between the
control switch and the kickdown switch; follow tracing
procedure F. If click occurs ground is indicated between
kickdown switch and relay or within one of these units;
follow procedure G and H.
E. With generator "A" wire connected to the negative post
of battery and overdrive dash control pushed in disconnect
governor. If click occurs, replace governor. If no
click occurs at governor, replace connection, and disconnect
governor wire at control switch. If click occurs,
inspect wire for ground; also inspect switch terminal for
grounding contact with some other part of the car. If no
click occurs replace connection, and -
F. With governor "A" wire connected as in E, disconnect
other wire at control switch; if click occurs inspect terminal
for a ground. If none is found replace switch. If no
click occurs disconnect harness plug from kickdown
switch. If click occurs a ground is indicated in either the
wire between the kickdown and the control switch or in
the kickdown switch. Connect test harness to overdrive
harness plug which was removed from kickdown switch
but do not plug into kickdown switch. Connect circuits 1
and 4 momentarily. If no click occurs, kickdown switch
is defective; if relay clicks the wire between the kickdown
switch and the control switch is grounded.
G. With generator "A" wire connected as in E, disconnect
harness plug from kickdown switch. If relay clicks, kickdown
switch is grounded. If there is no click the wire
between the relay and the kickdown switch or the relay is
grounded.
H. Connect test harness in system at relay and break the No.
2 circuit. If relay clicks the wire to the kickdown switch is
grounded, if it does not click relay is grounded and
should be replaced

J Spencer

Check the relay, it may be sticking keeping O/D engaged. I had same problem in Gettysberg. Changed out the relay and it is OK. Luckily I had a spare with me.. The relay is fed power direct from the battery and if the points inside stick it wont release. True the governor acts as the swith to provide ground to relay to engage/disengage relay but stuff happens. Over the years I have had relays for the blower motor stick on and keep running when the car is turned off.

If it happens again either remove fuse at relay or pull the plug off the relay and it may work again -- untill the next time.. Good Luck!!

Jim Spencer
Western New York Chapter

[Deleted User]

Thanks for the tips guys. It looks like it was the governor that was causing the car to not come out of overdrive when coming to a stop. I rigged up a light on the dash that showed when the solenoid was energized. I took it for a pretty good drive and sure enough, when I came to a stop the solenoid was still showing energized. The next day I tried another governor and so far it has been working perfect. I drove it about a 100 miles today with no issues. I also shot myself in the foot for a while. When I changed the governor I moved the lamp so it showed when the governor was either grounded or ungrounded. It turned out that the current that fed the lamp was enough to cause the relay to pull in. It really threw me for a while until I realized what was going on. Rob