Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

Dear Packard47:

Okay, I assume that grounding terminal 5 on the OD relay results in solenoid engagement. If the answer is yes, then the problem is in the ground control circuit.

If you are not sure of which is terminal 5 you can use a test light which acts the same as a ground wire but will not short out the harness.

Start at the governor. It gets its ground through a plate and screw that corrodes and loses conductivity. To fix this get a #10 star washer and clean the area with sandpaper.

Hope this fixes your problem.

Quote:
Relay and solenoid click and light goes on. I'm going to check the lockout switch next.

Lockout switch shows no continuity with knob in (or out).

Some have found severe wear on the bottom of the bakelite switch plunger. One was able to get some added life by removing the washer so switch dropped down further. I think one switch was too far gone & was replaced. If something like that is found, I wonder if plunger could be worked or drilled and tapped for a nylon screw which could be added on the end instead of replacement.

If switch is OK, the cable to lockout lever on trans can be misadjusted so knob doen't go in all the way to activate switch.

I removed the lockout switch, and after examining it i realized there was no way to disassemble it. So I sprayed some contact cleaner around the button, worked the button several times, and brought it back to life!

Reinstalled the switch; it works now, but the OD still doesn't. Probably need to examine the governor.

On governor, the overdrive will use the exposed terminal wire sort of in the middle of cover & possibly labeled AD. The one in a raised area usually covered with tar is for the clutch. Some have found those reversed. Not likely your problem because the solenoid didn't come in when you fixed the lockout.

Another FYI. Some of the early cars used a loom made in two sections. A short maybe 3 ft loom from OD was joined to the main loom by 6 black connectors. If you have an early one still with the connectors, those were cited in bulletins as being intermittent & generally causing problems. Packard even suggested eliminating the connectors and made later looms one piece. Something else to look for.