Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Thanks so much! We wiwll try this this weekend between trying to put on a new master cylinder on our recently-acquired 1938 Packard Eight! Too many Detroit irons in the fire...but it's fun!

Quote:John,

Have to ask! Could you please include the '38 Eight in the Packard Owner's Registry?

Hey...already done several days ago under my partner's handle: "Touringcarman".

John,

Sorry, good that it's already there. I did acknowledge it's inclusion in this post!

Well, prayer works! The 56 Patrician asked me this morning where I would like to go and promptly went into gear with no hesitation. This has happened before. Could this pushbutton "no go" situation be caused by some relay being energized after we fooled around with the battery cable? In any event she's working fine now and good thing, because she is the "gateway" to the access of our other two Packards in the back yard! Thanks to all who pitched in and helped with my "Saturday Problems"!

Having experienced some pushbutton problems of my own over the past year, I am glad that yours is functioning properly.

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The only relay that could be an issue would be if you still have the control relay as was on early systems. That would provide power to all the buttons & was turned on via the ballast resistor ign wire from ign switch. Shortly after production started relay was eliminated and the power to buttons came directly from the ign switch via the resistor feed wire.

You said you had reverse lights, so that relay or the feed should not be the cause since those would be out as well. Any other relay sticking would cause some other symptoms you would see or hear. Pressure switch for the P. N, R button not being closed and you also wouldn't have the reverse lights or be able to crank the starter motor.

I don't think you can totally breathe easy yet. If it happens again need to verify exactly what does/doesn't work. One possibility if it's only the H, L, D buttons is the common feed to those. That square plug under dash could stand a check to make sure none of the contacts are halfway out of the housing & making a poor connection.