Can't hit passing gear
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Can't hit passing gear
I have a '73 auto and I am having trouble when flooring it. It doesn't run the best and won't hit pasing gear. The rest of the rang is running pretty smoothly, has a little trouble idling sometimes. The timing is right on, new plugs and wires. Any suggestions?
Thanks
Nick
Thanks
Nick
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,752
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
TH400 transmissions have an electric passing gear kick-down. The switch is activated by the gas pedal. The wiring goes to a connector on the drivers side of the transmission. Make sure it is plugged in. Make sure the fuse is good. Sometimes the gas pedal lever bends, and it won't activate the switch. G/L 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,783
Likes: 2
From: Engineers do it better.
Originally Posted by big_G
... Sometimes the gas pedal lever bends, and it won't activate the switch.
I had to put electric tape on the switch to make sure it was depressed completely....a common problem if you ask me. Here's how to check:
Disconnet the cowl switch (under the hood). With key in ignition, car not running, press the gas pedel all the way down. You should hear a very low click in the tranny (hard to hear if area is noisy). If the click is not there, the kick-down is not working. Either bend the pedal till it does, or compansate by putting tape on the switch....
Good Luck
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 143
Likes: 1
From: New Fairfield CT
It has become clear that at some time my TH 400 kickdown assy has been removed from my 71. Any suggestions on a replacement system? I belive it was removed with the idle control soilnoid system years ago.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 10,866
Likes: 717
From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
Originally Posted by 71stockray
I sometimes have this same problem on my 71 and I do not have a electric kickdown switch. What is causing my TH 400 to do this? 
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 143
Likes: 1
From: New Fairfield CT
What I am sayin is that there is a connection on the TH, but there is no switch on, or connected to the gas pedal or the accel cable linkage. Upon flooring the car it will ramp up in RPM and wind out unless I wait a second or let off the pedal than it will upshift.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Racer
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 375
Likes: 0
From: Palm Bay FL
Originally Posted by 71stockray
What I am sayin is that there is a connection on the TH, but there is no switch on, or connected to the gas pedal or the accel cable linkage. Upon flooring the car it will ramp up in RPM and wind out unless I wait a second or let off the pedal than it will upshift.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,322
Likes: 1
From: Living in the Hartland
Originally Posted by 71stockray
It has become clear that at some time my TH 400 kickdown assy has been removed from my 71. Any suggestions on a replacement system? I belive it was removed with the idle control soilnoid system years ago.
Here is his homepage, look under th400, no pics so you might have to e-mail him.
http://community-2.webtv.net/MATTGRU/
Last edited by Fevre; Sep 15, 2005 at 02:25 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 892
Likes: 166
From: Oswego IL
Originally Posted by desi
I had to put electric tape on the switch to make sure it was depressed completely....a common problem if you ask me. Here's how to check:
Disconnet the cowl switch (under the hood). With key in ignition, car not running, press the gas pedel all the way down. You should hear a very low click in the tranny (hard to hear if area is noisy). If the click is not there, the kick-down is not working. Either bend the pedal till it does, or compansate by putting tape on the switch....
Good Luck
Good luck.
Drifting
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,258
Likes: 0
From: Huntsville Alabama
i am having the same problem the guys that built my motor put in a 3000 stall tc and said that i did not need a kick down switch. this thing does nothing when i punch it but just high rev.
