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Hey Folks,
I have seen many posts regarding this subject, but none match my situation. I noticed a while back that I didn't have a kickdown with my automatic transmission. There is a wire going to the solenoid on the transmission and I found a two-pronged plug just hanging loose under the dash, one wire pink and one wire orange. Most instances I have found had an orange and brown wire. Could this be the intended connection to the switch?
A secondary question: is there a way to access the switch without removing the dashboard?
The TH400 switch sits on top of the accelerator pedal linkage on the driver's side of the firewall. It's waaay up there. The wires should be in a dedicated connector and come through the firewall in the tach cable grommet. I don't recall the wire colors, plus I'm color blind so some shades of red/pink/purple/green/teal/orange are a crap shoot for me to ID correctly.
It is adjustable for proper operation, so after it's installed, it needs to be "zeroed" to full pedal depression.
You don't need to remove any part of the dash to access it, but removing the seat will help keep your back unkinked.
I found a bracket and a switch. Question about the wiring orientation as I am not certain, can't find any references, and the car didn't have a switch to begin with: which spade connection does the tranny wire and ignition wire go to on the switch? I would think that the tranny wire would go to the spade that corresponds to the location the switch travels to when at WOT.
I found a bracket and a switch. Question about the wiring orientation as I am not certain, can't find any references, and the car didn't have a switch to begin with: which spade connection does the tranny wire and ignition wire go to on the switch? I would think that the tranny wire would go to the spade that corresponds to the location the switch travels to when at WOT.
I don't think it matters if the connector will go on in either orientation. Switches that do require a specific wire orientation have keyways or shapes that only allow one way to connect. This switch has just the two bare terminals so either orientation is fine – when engaged the switch just connects both wires together.
biglot1969,
Tx for the note and I see a cable that runs from the carb linkage that runs to the side of the tranny.
One of my Vette buds made a few adjustments at the linkage bracket about 4 inches from the carb body.
But when I hit WOT the tranny did/does not get into passing gear???
Anyone within this thread have any suggestions??
I think the TH350 kicks down via a .mechanical linkage.
Originally Posted by JavaJolt78
biglot1969,
Tx for the note and I see a cable that runs from the carb linkage that runs to the side of the tranny.
One of my Vette buds made a few adjustments at the linkage bracket about 4 inches from the carb body.
But when I hit WOT the tranny did/does not get into passing gear???
Anyone within this thread have any suggestions??
JJ78
Agreed: only the TH400 has the pedal switch, the TH350 uses mechanical kick-down.
My automatic car has a 400, so I'm not familiar with adjustments on the 350. I bet the adjustment procedure is in the Chev. Service Manual for your year. It's a good resource to keep behind the seats for this type of thing.
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Originally Posted by JavaJolt78
biglot1969,
Tx for the note and I see a cable that runs from the carb linkage that runs to the side of the tranny.
One of my Vette buds made a few adjustments at the linkage bracket about 4 inches from the carb body.
But when I hit WOT the tranny did/does not get into passing gear???
Anyone within this thread have any suggestions?? JJ78
The TH350 kickdown cable is adjusted easily. First, you release/pop open the locking tab on the cable adjustment, located on the cable near the bracket that the cable attaches to at the rear corner of the carb. Popping the black locking tab straight up it releases the cable adjustment. With the cable released put the throttle lever in the wide open throttle position. Hold it there, and then push the cable release tab back down to lock it in that position. Done.
Before you do this, though, make sure you verify that you are actually getting wide open throttle (WOT) travel on your linkage. Most Vettes do not. If you don't get WOT travel, the kickdown will not work. So with the engine off, have someone press the gas pedal to the floor. Observe and verify that your throttle linkage and secondary linkage on the driver's side of the carb actually goes to full WOT position on the seecondary side. Once the gas pedal is to the floor, can you still move the throttle lever more to go to WOT? If so, you have a problem that needs to be repaired, and your kickdown will not work. Very common.
TH400 Kickdown
