did I just cook my OD solenoid?

[amycyclenut]

When I first bought my truck ('67 F100) it was running points and original coil. I replaced the points with electronic and the coil with a Pertronix flame-thrower. Upon wiring the new coil which requires 12 volts, I noticed that the White-Red stripe was plugged into the Red-Green stripe that was then connected to the Coil (which means the white-red strip was receiving resisted voltage). So for the new coil, I ditched the Red-Green stripe for a bypass that provided a full 12v to the coil. I left the White-Red stripe unplugged (which runs to the kickdown). All was well, then I decided to see if I could get my kickdown to work again. So, checking out the wiring diagrams for the Overdrive, I noticed that indeed that White-Red stripe is supposed to go to the coil.

I didn't notice it was supposed to be the negative side of the coil until later, so I attached to positive side. My next thought was "hey, this used to be resisted and now it's going to be a full 12v, I wonder if that matters" and did it anyway.

So, White-Red stripe wire has been attached directly to the positive side of the coil and I take a test drive. Engage OD successfully then floor it to see if the kickdown is working... hmm, doesn't seem to work, oh well, home I go.... on the way home, try to engage OD, no bueno! Get back home, check the fuse, it's fine, no blown fuse! Ugh. Since the White-Red stripe goes to the kickdown and the kickdown feeds to the Solenoid (which is 12v, says so right on the can), did I overcook the kickdown or the solenoid? Could this all be coincidence??

I've spent countless hours reading the article on this site as well as the Borg Warmer service manual. I spent several hours last night, checking voltage to the best of my abilities. What I do find is 12v at the relay and 12v on the connector for the White-Red stripe (can't remember if I checked the white wire, which feeds the governor) that goes into the kickdown switch but I do not have 12v under the truck at the White wire or the Blue-orange stripe and based on what I read I should... is this correct? Both the governor and the solenoid should be getting 12v. So doesn't that indicate that the kickdown isn't passing down the voltage? I get like a reading of 1.xxxxx I did check for continuity of the white and the blue-orange stripe wires from the kickdown plug to under the truck, that all tested fine.

Thanks guys for any guidance and help you can offer!

p.s., I grounded the relay and it definitely clicked, although I can't hear if the solenoid is clicking too (which as I understand it should), not sure what that sounds like but the relay is pretty loud. I also took the relay apart and sanded the contacts to clean them up. I tried grounding the governor but not sure I'm doing that right, probably not. I tried grounding it at the two little points on the cover that the wire connects at. Am I supposed to actually touch bare cable (the white wire that supposed to carry 12v) and ground it?

p.p.s I also cleaned the contacts on the kickdown and the relay, although seems weird that it would happen so suddenly if that were the problem.

Amy

[Nitekruizer]

Ooops, I misread the post.

[cowbay]

I have the same transmission. There is a good link here on the site to work off. Give that a shot and that may help. In addition sometimes the solenoid does not engage the rod for the overdrive. worst case scenario there are reproduction solenoids out there

http://www.fordification.com/tech/overdrive.htm

[amycyclenut]

So between the doc on this site and the Overdrive manual, and a little luck, I narrowed the issue down to the kickdown switch and/or rubber connector. Kickdown was definite issue and connector was questionable. Bought a new kickdown and put terminals on each wire and SUCCESS!