240 General: - 240 auto kick down light + Fuel and temp guages HELP please

Graphic · Nov 4th, 2018, 21:05

Hi,

1990 240 GL auto estate. (107K miles).

Need help before digging deep into the cars wiring:

Went for the kick down button and suddenly both fuel and temp gauges died completely and the kick down indicator lamp underneath started working in reverse: Light on - regular gears, light off - kick down engaged.

So far I've tried

1. Replacing the auto kick down relay - no change
2. Replacing the voltage regulator transitor for the fuel and temp gauges (located on the back of instrument circuit panel). Ok for 10 minutes then back as before
3. Disconnecting the fuel sender at the tank end. This got the temp gauge working again but still intermittent. Also the 'kick down' light still comes on at random - low glow.

Before going any further wondered if anyone out there has had a similar exeperience or knows the true fix. Next stage will be working through the wiring and swiches on the auto box by elimination- not straight forward.

So any sound advice greatfully recieved. Thanks.

Bugjam1999 · Nov 5th, 2018, 12:56

I don’t have an auto and haven’t experienced or heard of the same symptoms as you’re experiencing - but it sounds like an loose earth somewhere to me, possibly near the or connected to the kick down button since that started the whole episode...

Sorry that isn’t much help!

Cheers

Dippydog · Nov 7th, 2018, 08:18

Now I'm intrigued! I've had many cars with auto boxes-including a 144 and a 245-and I can't recall any of them having a kick down button[except the switch a the loud pedal] or light.For kick down I've always just mashed the loud pedal into the carpet the gearbox has then dropped gears and taken off before working its way back up the gears.I've had them[still have one]with a sport mode button on/near the selector which does have a corresponding dash cluster light,but that doesn't kick down the gears just holds on to each gear for longer in the rev range.

mocambique-amazone · Nov 7th, 2018, 11:13

Kick down button => overdrive button?

No experience with this fault, sorry. Happy day, Kay

Graphic · Nov 8th, 2018, 08:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by mocambique-amazone

Kick down button => overdrive button?

No experience with this fault, sorry. Happy day, Kay

Yes - it is the over drive button -on left side of the gear stick top. Will do an earthing check on that end of things first.

Many thanks.

Nicholas Lewin · Nov 16th, 2018, 14:21

Graphic

Are the o/d switch/light and the two gauges on the same fuse? If not it might help eliminate the problem if the two gauges work independently of the o/d switch when the o/d switch fuse is removed

I agree with Bugjam that given the fault occured when the switch was operated, that would be where I'd start - it may be as simple as a wire tag coming adrift

Good luck with it

Nov 4th, 2018, 21:05	#1
Graphic New Member Last Online: May 23rd, 2021 16:02 Join Date: May 2015 Location: Chester	240 auto kick down light + Fuel and temp guages HELP please Hi, 1990 240 GL auto estate. (107K miles). Need help before digging deep into the cars wiring: Went for the kick down button and suddenly both fuel and temp gauges died completely and the kick down indicator lamp underneath started working in reverse: Light on - regular gears, light off - kick down engaged. So far I've tried 1. Replacing the auto kick down relay - no change 2. Replacing the voltage regulator transitor for the fuel and temp gauges (located on the back of instrument circuit panel). Ok for 10 minutes then back as before 3. Disconnecting the fuel sender at the tank end. This got the temp gauge working again but still intermittent. Also the 'kick down' light still comes on at random - low glow. Before going any further wondered if anyone out there has had a similar exeperience or knows the true fix. Next stage will be working through the wiring and swiches on the auto box by elimination- not straight forward. So any sound advice greatfully recieved. Thanks.

Nov 5th, 2018, 12:56	#2
Bugjam1999 Master Member Last Online: Yesterday 12:00 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: London and Cambridge	I don’t have an auto and haven’t experienced or heard of the same symptoms as you’re experiencing - but it sounds like an loose earth somewhere to me, possibly near the or connected to the kick down button since that started the whole episode... Sorry that isn’t much help! Cheers

Nov 7th, 2018, 08:18	#3
Dippydog Premier Member Last Online: Apr 25th, 2024 17:55 Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: S****horpe	Now I'm intrigued! I've had many cars with auto boxes-including a 144 and a 245-and I can't recall any of them having a kick down button[except the switch a the loud pedal] or light.For kick down I've always just mashed the loud pedal into the carpet the gearbox has then dropped gears and taken off before working its way back up the gears.I've had them[still have one]with a sport mode button on/near the selector which does have a corresponding dash cluster light,but that doesn't kick down the gears just holds on to each gear for longer in the rev range.

Nov 7th, 2018, 11:13	#4
mocambique-amazone Master Member Last Online: Jan 24th, 2022 17:08 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: small village in the north of Germany	Kick down button => overdrive button? No experience with this fault, sorry. Happy day, Kay

Nov 16th, 2018, 14:21	#6
Nicholas Lewin newish member Last Online: Nov 7th, 2020 23:35 Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: London	Graphic Are the o/d switch/light and the two gauges on the same fuse? If not it might help eliminate the problem if the two gauges work independently of the o/d switch when the o/d switch fuse is removed I agree with Bugjam that given the fault occured when the switch was operated, that would be where I'd start - it may be as simple as a wire tag coming adrift Good luck with it

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