Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

Hi, just bought a 1940 120 and have a stupid question. Does the OD work with the knob in or out? Thanks in advance!

Knob in. Here is an excerpt from the 46 owners manual explaining operation. Same as the 40 except I believe your signal light is in a different location -- on the upper dash in the center of a knob IIRC.

There is also info in the 40 owners manual but it seems more aimed toward the service side of the OD rather than drivers operation.

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Tried it. No luck or light. I will check it out tomorrow. Is there a fuse?

There should be an inline fuse near the starter solenoid but could be anywhere in the black wire between BAT terminal on solenoid and terminal 1 on the OD relay. I believe it is 20 amp. Here is a schematic of the R9.

Some known electrical reasons for no OD is bad governor contacts or ground to governor, lockout switch contacts and if you have the black connectors, an open wire at the connectors. Governor gets its ground thru a small metal jumper between a rivet on the bakelite and one of the mounting screws. Make sure the screws are tight with no corrosion. Lockout switch is at the rear of the knob bracket and the plunger can wear so switch isn't made when knob is pushed in, connectors are in the loom and connect a short section from OD to the main loom. Check the other wiring and kickdown switch too.

You can use a jumper wire to ground terminal 5 of the relay while the car is sitting. If you have power to the OD you should hear the relay click and perhaps the solenoid try to clunk. If you do the problem is probably in the string between relay and governor. If no click then power or relay.

Doubtful your car has it but there was a 47-48 retrofit to add a switch to disconnect the incoming power when going into reverse. It could be applied to prewar cars if the situation the switch was provided for was warranted. If you have the switch there will be a 4 terminal rectangular box at the base of steering column with the plunger operated by the 1-R shift lever.

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Thanks!