Hi Folks, Im reposting this in the 700 section to see if Some Transmission gurus can give me a clue here.

A while back I posted about a non working OD AW71. I did read the FAQ, Actually had a bad solenoid, replaced it. the OD worked a time or two, intermittently. A couple of weeks ago I drove the car 250 miles on the interstate, never shifted into OD. stopped for dinner about an hour and on the drive back to the motel it shifted ( at about 55) and worked all the way back to the motel. Next day no dice. Second trip later that week same scenario except it started working after a 45 min stop and worked for the next two hours shifting in and out of OD, lots of times.

Monday I decided to bypass the switch, relay and harness to the solenoid (even though the solenoid has clicked every time I could check it.) (stopped) My thought was that perhaps vibration might be shutting the solenoid off at speed. It worked one or twice. Since then, no shift to OD

The transmission works fine other than that.

I have done the tranny flush with the pipe to the cooler off
I have adjusted the Kickdown cable.
I have blown out the passages with compressed air, both in the transmission and the solenoid.

So folks amn I looking at a shifter valve body problem or some other issue?

Regards and thanks for your input,
Woody

Sounds like the OD relay. Resolder your existing one or purchase a new one.

Thanks Mark,
but I have already bypassed the switch, nd the relay with my handy lighter plug with a switch and a 10 amp fuse connected directly to the solenoid + lead. Any way I look at it, that eliminates everything but the solenoid and it has passed fluid or shut it off every time it was tested.

At this point I believe that I'm dealing with some kind of pressure problem or valve or check ball problem. I can't remember if the solinoid has to be open or closed, but I have thought of gutting my original solinoid with the cracked top, to make an open valve test tool!

That would have to elimenate everything dealing with the solenoid or electrical.

What do you other OD Guru's think?

Regards

Woody

You have done a good job dignosing the problem. Before assuming internal problems (that would be very unusual) I would try a different solonoid and double check that kick down cable, it may be sticking intermittently.

I had similar problems with a solonoid and I went through some of the process you did. I eventually found that the solonoid coil was intermittent sometimes drawing 7 or 8 amps and other times barely an amp. Tested fine on the bench. I only found this out by driving around with the meter sitting on the seat beside me. I replaced the solonoid with a used one. As a very last resort I would even try another flush changing over to Mobil 1 synthetic. That cured a delayed shift into 2nd gear problem for me. If that does not do it buy a used tranny and throw it in. They are cheap and plentiful.

Good Luck
--
David Hunter