[Healeys] Intermittent OD failiure

[Bob Spidell]

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 



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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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