TheSamba.com :: View topic - Kick down switch on a 70 FI auto FB questions

Wed Aug 29, 2018 9:14 am

Can someone post a picture of the wires that connect to the kick down switch on a 70 FI auto FB? Or tell me what color wires are supposed to connect to it? Does one connect to the trans?

Where can I source a new switch? Mine is beyond repair.

I have a thin red wire coming from the main harness thats not connected to anything yet. It's routed with the oil pressure wire. I also have a thin black wire coming from the starter wiring that doesn't have a home either.

I managed to rewire the FI system since almost every one was broken or disconnected form its plug. These few are all I have left to figure out.

Thanks in advance!

Wed Aug 29, 2018 11:00 am

The thin red wire went to the electric AAR (Aux Air Regulator).

Wed Aug 29, 2018 12:43 pm

Thanks Bob. The wire for the AAR was broken way underneath it. Found it and hooked up now.

I have no remaining wires in the engine bay now so what hooks up to the Kickdown switch? I assume one is a ground? Where does the other come from?

Are there replacement switches?

Wed Aug 29, 2018 12:46 pm

No colors, but here is how the switch is wired:

I think the wires are all black, anyway.

With an automatic, you probably need the red wire connected to the electric AAR. Can you post a pic of your engine bay in that area (near the distributor) and we can better advise you.

Switches are near impossible to find. Some have adapted generic micro-switches from Radio Shack. Hard to find a RS anymore, too!

Wed Aug 29, 2018 12:50 pm

Ah that's easy enough!

Where and what is N5? On the trans?

Wed Aug 29, 2018 2:13 pm

Is this the kick down solenoid?

I have a black wire coming out of it.

Pic is from samba gallery that I circled.

Wed Aug 29, 2018 3:20 pm

Whoo hoo! Black wire coming from starter harness was the reverse lights.

All that's left is the wire coming from the trans pictured above. If that's the solenoid my engine wiring will finally be done!

I cant test it cause the car still isn't running and the switch is toast.

Thu Aug 30, 2018 10:11 am

Kanester wrote: Whoo hoo! Black wire coming from starter harness was the reverse lights.

This confuses me... there is a wire from the starter to the FI (probably white), and a wire form the tranny to the switch (probably black)

Thu Aug 30, 2018 10:31 am

Believe me the wiring on this car has driven me mad. LOL

There's not one wire in the engine compartment I haven't had to extend, replace the connector end, or reattach to save the FI.

Pictured is the wire I'm talking about. If you look close you can see the thin black wire behind the red one. It exits the harness that goes to the starter. (I'll be fixing the tape on the red wire soon)
It only has power when the car is in R. Tried every other option to get power to it, as in lights, brakes, and all switches. Only R so reverse lights! :D

There are no other switches on the trans other than the one I circled in the earlier picture. Hoping that is the kick down solenoid.

Thu Aug 30, 2018 11:01 am

Kanester wrote: Is this the kick down solenoid?

I have a black wire coming out of it.

Pic is from samba gallery that I circled.
That's "N5" that goes to the kick down switch.
Off the coil + or terminal #15, you should have a black wire with a cigar shaped fuse holder (S1), and a black wire coming out of it, that goes to the kick down switch (F8).

Thu Aug 30, 2018 11:07 am

Kanester wrote: Believe me the wiring on this car has driven me mad. LOL

There's not one wire in the engine compartment I haven't had to extend, replace the connector end, or reattach to save the FI.

Pictured is the wire I'm talking about. If you look close you can see the thin black wire behind the red one. It exits the harness that goes to the starter. (I'll be fixing the tape on the red wire soon)
It only has power when the car is in R. Tried every other option to get power to it, as in lights, brakes, and all switches. Only R so reverse lights! :D

There are no other switches on the trans other than the one I circled in the earlier picture. Hoping that is the kick down solenoid.

Yes, because it gets power from the gear selector (shifter) in the reverse position. Just like the engine won't start unless the selector lever is in the N position.
That wire gets power from the fuse box (hot with key on) to the shifter. Then out of the shifter to the tail light "T", then to the reverse lights.
I hope this helps.

Thu Aug 30, 2018 11:35 am

Thanks Bob.

Now if I can source a kick down switch I'll be set!

I figured the switch was under the shifter when I looked and felt all around the trans and nothing else was coming out of it. Then i finally found a diagram that showed the switch was a reverse/neutral combo so I figured it had to be under the shifter.

Thanks again for all your guys help. Hopefully I'll be driving today. Then on to the wiring mess under the dash. LOL

Thu Aug 30, 2018 12:27 pm

The KD switch mounts to the engine on the left side of the Intake Air Distributor. I have a thick red wire from my left KD switch contact to the positive side of the coil. I have a thin black wire w/black fuse holder to the other contact on my right KD switch. I took a picture, but Photobucket is screwing with me trying to steer me into a new paid account. My son is trying to move my pics some where else, but even he (IT Expert) is having trouble getting it accomplished! :roll:

Thu Aug 30, 2018 10:44 pm

The green circled area on your trans is it's kickdown unit. Just to make things simple, it is activated by 12V, not ground. The kickdown "SWITCH", is integrated into the throttle mechanism. But to put it basically, the kickdown switch is a micro switch with an arm on it. In its regular state, it is in the normally open (no connection) condition. The electrical connections are easy. Connect a wire from the hot (keyed) side of the coil to the switch. I put an inline fuse there. Then from the switch run a wire to the green circled connection. When the throttle is floored, it closes the micro switch, and sends 12V to the trans. This activates the kickdown feature.

I wish I had some better pics for you, but I have been running a Type 4 engine so long, I don't have a pic of the stock throttle unit. However, I did steal the first pic from the gallery. The rest of the pics are from my various stages of carburation, and I hope you can get a general idea from al of them.

Fri Apr 09, 2021 6:42 am

Hi there! Old thread I know, but I noticed your brake light switch in the first pic isn't factory and is secured to block somehow. Do you happen to know whats going on there? My brake light switch plug threaded housing snapped off the block :(