Need Help in R-11 Overdrive Troubeshooting

Posted by Dave Schmick On 2010/10/21 20:34:54

Folks: I have a very frustrating problem. My R-11 overdrive has suddenly stopped working (it won't engage...the relay is not closing) on my 23rd series after having been functioning PERFECTLY for as long as I've had the car (3 years). I thought for sure it must be the overdrive relay or fuse, but I removed the relay and bench tested it...it's just fine (closes right at 6 v). I placed it back into the system and with the ignition switch closed, I have voltage on both sides of the relay coil. I have continuity from the relay to the solenoid (and the solenoid does energize when I manually close the relay). I have continuity across the kickdown switch and from the kickdown switch to the relay. I suspect that the governor is not properly grounding out the signal when the speed setpoint it reached. Tonight, I went underneath to inspect the governor, and I was surprised to note that mine had two wires coming out from the top of it (from two separate booted connections)...one of course goes to the kickdown switch. But the other wire (about 6 inches long) is simply dangling there, dead ending in something of a stump. Is this second wire supposed to be connected to ground??? I thought the grounding function happened internal to the housing, so I'm not understanding what this second wire does and how or if it has anything to do with my problem. I can't see where this wire could have been connected to anything in the immediate vicinity...there simply isn't any visible evidence. I would be happy to check continuity from the governor to the kickdown switch, but I can't see how I can do that given the presence of those little boots on top of the governor that cover the connection points (I can barely touch them with my fingertips). I'm stunned to read threads of those of you who have actually removed the governor. I can't see how this is humanly possible, given the geometry of the device and where it is wedged...how the heck did you guys ever get it out???? But I am still left to conclude that my problem is an electrical one and has to do with the governor's grounding function.

So, any comments or thoughts from the wizards out there?