Re: 1948 Super Eight Resurrection

Posted by HH56 On 2013/4/4 15:42:44

Since it's intermittent with no green light, might look at the regular lockout switch on knob and the loom carefully. As you mentioned, some early cars had a two piece OD loom joined together by 6 black connectors under the car. Even when fairly new Packard called those connectors out for corrosion and causing problems. Suggested if any intermittent problems occurred, dealers remove them and solder the wires together. Later looms were one piece. The lockout switch plunger can wear on the end barely closing the switch and then intermittent vibration can make switch open.

If that is not the issue, with no green light then governor contacts could be worn and acting up as could the relay contacts. Pull-in coil contacts in the solenoid are a service item but you would have the light if they failed -- just no OD. There has also been mention of issues with one of the small screws holding the governor cover corroding or loosening. The screw is connected to a metal tab on the cover so also provides the ground to the governor contact. If it has problems it causes intermittent grounding. No ground, no green light, no OD.