After some help with regard to the overdrive on my car as I am trying to diagnose why said overdrive isn't working...
I have power when the ignition is on coming through just one of the two wires that go to the switch. My question is should both wires be providing power or is it correct just being one wire with power?
If the latter then how do you determine the correct side of the switch to connect the wire to as i cant see any obvious markings...
Any assistance appreciated.
Oh and whilst I am on, i don't suppose anyone has any "tricks" to remove the back section of an original type sprint exhaust without cutting it off do they?
Assuming you mean the gearstick switch, yes, one wire should give 12V and teh other carries it down to the solenoid.
It makes no diffetrence which way round they connect to the switch.
Worth getting under the car and checking that the 12V makes it down to one side of teh solenoid, and that the solenoid earth wire is actually working OK. I have had 2 where the wire looked fine, but had failed internally. A simple way of checking is to connect a bulb accross the solenoid terminals.
Other common failures (another assumption, you are getting 12V at one wire) is the switch has failed (new ones are developing a pattern of failures) or the wires down the gearstick have failed.
To remove original tail pipes, once the joint has been separated, you need the car supported so that the axle can drop to its full extent and have the nearside rear wheel off. You can then remove the pipes by rotating them as you draw them backwards. I think from memory it's an anti-clockwise rotation, but don't quote me on that!
I believe it to be electrical rather than oil level as the level was topped up a little while ago but i will check that as well, so thanks for that advice Sean...
With Alun's advice on the exhaust removal, I think I will pop it up off the ground onto axles, take a look at the solenoid as advised by Clive for power at that point and also try and get the exhaust out at the same time but supported differently so the axle is free to move as Alun advices.
Can also look at another job which is a non working speedo, with the likelihood that it will be the cable... Hopefully can crack a few jobs in one afternoon of tinkering...
Thanks Gents for the information so far, it is very much appreciated.
Not wanting to teach you to suck eggs, but when testing for power at the solenoid, you will need ignition on, in 3rd or 4th gear and od switch on.
Testing across the terminals of the solenoid checks both supply and earth. If nothing, connect to teh supply side and earth the other test wire on the gearbox itself. Saying that, if the solenoid earth wire feels hard or stiff, replace it. They look OK, but are a PITA.
