• The Roadster Factory Recovery Fund - Friends, as you may have heard, The Roadster Factory, a respected British Car Parts business in PA, suffered a total loss in a fire on Christmas Day. Read about it, discuss or ask questions >> HERE. The Triumph Register of America is sponsoring a fund raiser to help TRF get back on their feet. If you can help, vist >> their GoFundMe page.
  • Hey there Guest!
    If you enjoy BCF and find our forum a useful resource, if you appreciate not having ads pop up all over the place and you want to ensure we can stay online - Please consider supporting with an "optional" low-cost annual subscription.
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this UGLY banner)
Tips
Tips

Help -think I've got a bad overdrive solenoid ?

bighealeysource

Luke Skywalker
Bronze
Country flag
Offline
The overdrive on my 56 100M was working perfectly and then out of nowhere it stopped. Have checked all the electrical connections per the trouble shooting guidelines in the works manual as well as articles from Roger Moment. Even put in a new throttle switch since the existing one was the original. Get no response of the desired solenoid clicking but what I can hear- when you simply switch on the ignition,press down the gas pedal and move the gear shift to the right when in 3rd or 4th gear - is a very slight whining like the solenoid itself is trying to move the plunger. Faint but there when you move the gear shift. I am thinking this must be the solenoid and guess I get to remove the tranny tunnel and check it out. From everything I have read on this subject seems like if the electrical tests do not get any results then must be the solenoid has given up the ghost after working just fine the other day. Any other advice ?
Thanks,
Mike
 

IanIrving

Jedi Hopeful
Country flag
Offline
You don't need to press down on the gas pedal when you want to hear the solenoid. With the ignition on and the OD switch on, just moving the gear lever to 3rd/4th. It's a definite noise, very easy to hear with no engine running. If you can't hear it then your solenoid is not operating. With the tranny tunnel removed you can check if you get the 12 volts to the solenoid, the other possibility is a bad earth connection to the solenoid.

Ian
 

TimK

Jedi Knight
Silver
Country flag
Offline
I had to replace my solenoid, but made the mistake of reusing the original plunger. It didn't work. It was a little too short for the new solenoid. When I switched it out for the plunger that came with the new solenoid, it worked fine. I also had installed an in-line fuse (10 amp). That saved the new solenoid because the old plunger was not long enough to switch the pull circuit to the hold circuit.
 

Patrick67BJ8

Obi Wan
Silver
Country flag
Offline
bighealeysource said:
The overdrive on my 56 100M was working perfectly and then out of nowhere it stopped. Have checked all the electrical connections per the trouble shooting guidelines in the works manual as well as articles from Roger Moment. Even put in a new throttle switch since the existing one was the original. Get no response of the desired solenoid clicking but what I can hear- when you simply switch on the ignition,press down the gas pedal and move the gear shift to the right when in 3rd or 4th gear - is a very slight whining like the solenoid itself is trying to move the plunger. Faint but there when you move the gear shift. I am thinking this must be the solenoid and guess I get to remove the tranny tunnel and check it out. From everything I have read on this subject seems like if the electrical tests do not get any results then must be the solenoid has given up the ghost after working just fine the other day. Any other advice ?
Thanks,
Mike
Sounds like a bad/weak solenoid. Clicking okay, but not enough strength to do its job. I had the same symptoms...changed solenoid and OD worked.
Patrick
 
OP
bighealeysource

bighealeysource

Luke Skywalker
Bronze
Country flag
Offline
Thanks y'all for the advice and confirming what looks like the problem. Ordered a new one from Moss and it comes with a new plunger too so hopefully will not have the problem Tim mentioned. Plus, GREAT idea about putting an inline fuse in the circuit. That I will do !
Many thanks,
Mike
 
OP
bighealeysource

bighealeysource

Luke Skywalker
Bronze
Country flag
Offline
Hey y'all,
Thought I would let you know it was a bad solenoid. Installed a new one today and works like a charm. Going to take it out for a test drive to make sure the old plunger works with the new solenoid as Tim ran into and if not put the new plunger in and try again. ALso going to put in that in line fuse, just want to make sure it is accessible without pulling the trans cover !
Thank again,
Mike
 

TimK

Jedi Knight
Silver
Country flag
Offline
I hope you didn't misunderstand my experience. I tried to reuse the old plunger and would have burned out the solenoid, or my wiring, because it did not switch off the pull circuit and continued to draw 30 amps or so until the inline fuse I had installed blew. The OD worked once until the fuse blew. I swapped out the plungers using the new one that came with the new solenoid and have had no problems since.
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
I TR6 Got in a wreck - need some help on who to take it to and what to check Triumph 48
weewillie my son got this yesterday and if anyone can help Other Cars 6
J Paint help! [I've got a mess to clean up] Triumph 9
T TR4/4A Got some help on the TR4a IRS seats today Triumph 6
LastDeadLast I've got a situation that needs help solving Triumph 18
N Wanted Help with car identification Other British Classifieds 2
I MGB Help! What is this part for? MG 13
P Please help identify this tourer Spotted 13
angelfj1 TR5/TR250 TR250 Need Help identifying wires (2 - black) feeding starting solenoid Triumph 6
C MGB More Weber help needed MG 27
V 96 Chimera help needed TVR 1
V Help with identifying morris eight Other British Cars 12
J MGB help, turn signals do not work MG 3
J MGB HELP, my horn does not work! MG 8
I MGB Alternator help MG 0
S TR2/3/3A TR2 door help! Triumph 2
A TR2/3/3A VERY wobbly TR3 - help needed!!!! Triumph 53
P General Tech Positive Earth?? Very confused. A little help? Triumph 19
Texas TR3 TR2/3/3A Convertible top webbing installation help? Triumph 5
apbos The next rabbit hole. Help ID the chassis. Racing 26
R Help With Spridget Speedometers Spridgets 4
apbos Help Identify this car chassis Racing 20
tr6web TR6 Sputtering help Triumph 6
R TR6 Help: Brake Part Source or …. ? Triumph 1
B Help for Old Men Restoration & Tools 15
Basil Admn Note Our neighbors need emergency help Triumph 0
Basil Our neighbors need emergency help Spridgets 0
Basil Admin Note Our neighbors need emergency help MG 0
Basil Emergency help requested for our neighbors Austin Healey 0
B TR6 Help with color and color code / paint recommendation Triumph 4
JohnGone MGB Help getting my 1980 MGB to pass CA smog test MG 19
K TR6 Need help with Mimosa Yellow Paint Triumph 1
Bayless Help please installing bonnet release cable Spridgets 8
T TR2/3/3A Help - Cooling system problem Triumph 7
D TR6 Help with tr6 engine diagnosis Triumph 11
H Wanted MK2 - Please, help needed Jaguar Classifieds 60
D Spitfire 1980 California Spitfire, Help Figuring What To Do With It? Triumph 15
I Bugeye oil leak help Spridgets 4
A TR6 Carburetor help Triumph 5
Darwin GT6 Diff Help Please Triumph 2
J TR2/3/3A Need help with a value for this TR3 please Triumph 6
M Need help removing the pinion assembly from a late 1275 steering rack Spridgets 7
V VAUXHALL Astra diesel 1.7cdti loss of power 2012. HELP. Other British Cars 1
jehuie Help...replaced my alternator and now my water pump is leaking. Spridgets 16
algot1901 HELP with wheel bearings Other British Cars 1
K TR2/3/3A The guide bolts to help gearbox install? Triumph 19
S MGB Mgb with nissan cylinder head. I am a new member, introduction and help MG 1
T Lotus 7 - help identifying parts Lotus 5
TheRealDestrux MGB 1977 MG MGB need help putting top down MG 1
6 Electrical Help Please Spridgets 7

Similar threads

Top