I have the OD relay out. I think this is causing my intermittent OD functioning. The solenoid gives a consistent click each time I hook 12v to it so I'm thinking hoping it's not that. This relay is not the same one as in the Don Foster photos. It's #1259750896326. I don't see any burned or broken solder spots, even with a magnifying light. Three spots at not shiny like the others, and I see some remnants of flux or something around some of the soldering. On the other side, by the copper wire coil, I see contact points like in an old distributor. I'm assuming it would be a good idea to clean these, but I'm not sure if I should use alcohol or fine sandpaper or what. Any ideas?? Maybe I'll try the cleaning, and if it doesn't fix it, get one from Groton or IPD. PS: I don't know how I'd solder something so small, but I think I have a friend who can help. Thanks in advance. The project is coming along great.
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Thank you, Doug C. 81 242 Brick on Blocks, stock; 86 240, 129K, pictured in Rolling once, now has smashed left quarter panel thanks to the driver of an F150. Daughter safe in her Volvo.

I'll stick my neck out on this one and state LOUDLY that the relays for the manual transmission Overdrives DO NOT need a blanket resolder when something does not work.

What is needed is a look at the lower instrument panel to see what the OD dash light does when the OD is intermittent and it is beleibved the problem is electrical.

On Relay controlled Laycock ODs, there are two simple fixes if electical problem is the cause of no OD.

1. Dash light is on and no OD. Check the yellow wire to and terminals on the solenoid on the OD.

2. Dash light is off and no OD. Check the red wire to and the 4th gear switch on the right side of the transmission cover.

If and ONLY IF the two above inspections reveal no problems with the associated components, then look at the relay.

Duane

How do I test the fourth gear switch on the passenger side of the transmission? Often when I press the button to switch into OD, I get no light and no gear change. If I press it several times, it will switch gears and the light on the dash will change. The solenoid wires look good and the solenoid does make a clear click when 12 volts are applied. The wire from the solenoid up to the switch in the shiftknob is in good condition. Thanks for the help.
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Thank you, Doug C. 81 242 Brick on Blocks, stock; 86 240, 129K, pictured in Rolling once, now has smashed left quarter panel thanks to the driver of an F150. Daughter safe in her Volvo.

Real fast test is when it does not go into OD, pull the shift lever back and further to the right. Push button. If goes into OD, wigggle shift lever without pushing button. IF OD light goes out, 4th gear sitch is bad.

PITA true verification. Under car with VOM set to ohms, shifter in 4th. Check red wire to ground. Wiggle shifter. If do not maintain continuity to ground the switch is bad.

Duane

When my OD relay was acting up I could just barely see little hairline "circles" around some of the solder joints even under magnification. Just go ahead and resolder at least the bigger joints. Clean the points with a strip of cardboard like an uncoated business card.

Justin B.
83 244 Turbo

I second that. My solder pads had very VERY fine cracks that were only visible in strong direct sunlight at exactly the correct angle and viewed with a 10x hand magnifying glass. Soldering the pads fixed the problem in less than a minute.

Duane (ODGuru) is probably right about checking wires and 4th gear switch, but: resoldering the relay is a lot quicker and easier than jacking up the car -- and like my granny used to say, "It couldn't hurt!"
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-- Bruce / '82 244 (315k miles!), '86 745, '87 760Ti, '94 854

That was my thinking as well, if the light won't come on and the fuse is good it is likely the relay or maybe the wires between the switch and relay. The way the wires are run to the switch and solenoid is stupid in my opinion. I think I'm going to drill a hole in the tunnel, put in a grommet, and run them through there instead accross a lip of bare metal (unless the pasts car had been rigged)...

Justin