Hi,
The overdrive select button operates the "No O/D" light on the dash of my '89 diesel Town Ace, but the gearbox doesn't change. It never gets into overdrive. Any ideas?
Peter B
- (#6036) Peter Blake, 7 Nov 02
Take the console off and check the connections to the main switch and to the solenoid. With ignition on, repeatedly switch o/d on and off. There should be a click as the solenoid is switched on.
- (#6037) Ian Dunse, 7 Nov 02
If not, see if you can get 12v at the solenoid (LHS of the tranny)
- (#6038) david miller, 7 Nov 02
Peter,
The function of the O/D switch is to keep the gearbox from changing up to it's fourth gear. In towns or on long hills, especially when towing, this is sometimes an advantage. So, on these gearboxes, fourth gear is, wrongly I think, termed "overdrive". You might like to count the changes (with the o/d switch & display turned off) as you accelerate and you should find that the gearbox is changing, correctly, from first to second, third and fourth.. Are you thinking that the switch brings in a seperate ratio on the propshaft, ie, like the old Laycock type, fitted to many vehicles a few years ago ? If so, this is not the system on the Townace auto box. I very rarely use the o/d button on my auto Masterace and I use the gearbox in the same way as any other four speed automatic.
- (#6039) John Davis, 7 Nov 02
Peter
I had a similar problem a few months ago with my '86 Spacecruiser.
With the help of the boys here, mainly Ian, I managed to fix it, the problem being a dry joint on the overdrive computer board.
The thread is on 'Ace Answers/Transmission etc/Auto/Overdrive, Spacecruiser auto 1986-no overdrive' if this can offer some ideas.
- (#6040) eric.beauchamp, 7 Nov 02
Thanks people, you have given some clues. Oil and filter
change first, I think, before taking it to bits.
Bought the TownAce yesterday, but we have experience of
Toyota gearboxes, having had a SpaceCruiser, an automatic
Corolla, an automatic Carina E (all totalled by my lady),
and I have an automatic Supra. Going to leave my Supra in
her care tomorrow while I take the Townie for a run to
work and back.
- (#6041) Peter Blake, 7 Nov 02
For those individuals with the old variety of townace. I'm led to believe they are the same gearbox as put into the 2 series Volvos. Assuming my mates right, as long as they're kept with ATF they should be bomb-proof
- (#6042) Dave Brnadwood, 7 Nov 02
Yup, a version of the A40 tranny was also used by Volvo. My manual covers both!
They're known in the trade to be good'uns.
- (#6043) david miller, 7 Nov 02
david, you got a manual that covers autobox?
what is it, and where can i get one?
never had an auto before and want to be prepared if anything goes wrong!!
ed.
- (#6058) eddie arrowsmith, 8 Nov 02
David,
Thanks for your reassuring comments about our autoboxes and, like Eddie, I should like to find out a bit more about them and add that information to my Townace data for future reference. Do you know if the box is well known in the trade and, possibly by reason of it being fitted to other makes, should the bona fide autobox specialists be familiar with it ?
- (#6059) John Davis, 8 Nov 02
Any specialist can handle it. I have two manuals covering the autobox, and the official Toyota one is superb(It's the factory manual for the US Van, bought off Ebay). But I wouldn't say anyone needs it- too many special tools etc are needed to work at the box, and there's nothing a specialist hates more than one that's been partially stripped or tinkered with.
Change oil and filter, and adjust the kickdown to taste- that's about all you can do!
- (#6060) david miller, 9 Nov 02