Turbo 400 kick down question?
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Joined: Mar 2019
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From: Way freakin too close to the city
Turbo 400 kick down question?
I have a 1972 Cutlass 455 with Turbo 400 w/shift kit and Hurst Dual Gate. The original owner drag raced it in Houston prior to 1981 when my brother bought it. Now that I have it painted and almost put back together, I have a transmission question. When driving it last year and it had shifted into the final gear, I'd try to push the pedal to the floor to go into what we'd call "passing gear" back in the day! It did not down shift. It just went faster in the final gear. Since the car was drag raced, would someone have disconnected or removed the linkage that controls that function with the throttle wide open. I've never messed with autos too much!
OLE442
OLE442
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 42,495
From: Poteau, Ok
On a T400 the kickdown is electrically controlled with a switch on the gas pedal. Make sure its there, wired and has voltage, and adjusted properly. The wire runs from the switch to the transmission.
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,099
From: central Indiana
The kickdown solenoid connector is on the drivers side of the transmission, above and towards the rear of the shift linkage. If there is nothing plugged into the connector, there is where you need to start looking for your problem.
1972 U code Supreme
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 4,087
From: Chesapeake, VA
I posted a similar question a few years ago, and here's the thread. Pay attention to response #5.
TH400 kickdown
TH400 kickdown
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,139
From: Way freakin too close to the city
Well I have the switch above the gas pedal and the wire(s) are plugged into it. Once I get the stuff done to the interior, I'll put the car on the lift and see what's under the car.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,139
From: Way freakin too close to the city
Well, I have the switch by the accelerator pedal and I have the solenoid on the driver's side of the tranny and both have wires but I need to see if I can find how it runs point A to point B! I guess I'll have to test to see if the wire is continuous between both and see if there is actually power?? Also, what fuse is it powered off of. You know me and electrical testing......this will be fun!
It'll get me ready to fix my driver's side power window later in the winter.
OLE442
It'll get me ready to fix my driver's side power window later in the winter.
OLE442
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 12,789
From: Evansville, IN
ignition switched power to accelerator pedal switch. When floored, power through switch down to trans, through bulkhead, to solenoid. You should hear it click when it gets power. It can be other problems than these.
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