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Overdrive quits.

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Overdrive quits.
#1
4wud568 Avatar
4wud568 Doug Colby
Sacramento, CA, USA   USA
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1958 Other Custom "Wilson"
I was driving down the freeway in overdrive, when someone cut across me and swerved into my lane not once but twice. I slammed on my breaks but did not have time to switch out of overdrive.

The car is now stuck in overdrive in 3rd and 4th gears. How do I check for the fault? Washer/wiper/overdrive switch?

Thanks in advance,
Doug


Doug Colby
1970 MGBGT

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Re: Overdrive quits.
#2
John37 Avatar
John37 John M
Abingdon, Oxfordshire, UK   GBR
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1978 MG MGB GT
If it's only in overdrive in 3rd and 4th, it's almost certainly electrical. To go into overdrive, it needs power to the solenoid. The most likely place is the overdrive switch or a short between the wires going to it.


John
1978 MGB GT UK spec



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024-04-11 05:27 PM by John37.

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Re: Overdrive quits.
#3
Ken Lessig Avatar
Ken Lessig Gold Member
Nevada, Tx., USA   USA
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Find the yellow wire in the bundle under the hood, right hand side. Disconnect it and test for 12V there, if you find 12V it means the switch is staying on. If not, the issue is farther down the circuit, likely the lockout switch.

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Re: Overdrive quits.
#4
dickmoritz Avatar
dickmoritz Platinum Member Dick Moritz
Philly 'burbs, PA, USA   USA
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Problem must lie in the wiper/washer/overdrive stalk switch or related wiring; cannot lie in the lockout switch, since if the lockout switch was failed in the "On" position, the electrons would still be prevented from reaching the lockout switch by operating the stalk switch, and if the lockout switch were failed in the "On" position, the lockout switch would allow overdrive in all forward gears plus neutral and (uh-oh...) reverse as well...

As Ken notes, you can disable the overdrive if you like by separating the yellow wire bullet connector just rearward of the fuse box...

Dick


Errabundi Saepe, Semper Certi
(Often wrong, but always certain)

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Re: Overdrive quits.
#5
red72mgb Avatar
red72mgb Carl Lambert
Mt. Dora, FL, USA   USA
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1972 MG MGB "Carl's B"
Am having no od problem myself but read your post about disconnecting the overdrive switch if necessary. I cannot find the yellow wire to disconnect should I need to. Please adviise

Red72mgb

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Re: Overdrive quits.
#6
dickmoritz Avatar
dickmoritz Platinum Member Dick Moritz
Philly 'burbs, PA, USA   USA
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It's in the bundle of wires just aft of the fuse box...

Dick


Errabundi Saepe, Semper Certi
(Often wrong, but always certain)

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