Borg Warner Trans Won't Downshift

Solenoid sending unit ? There isn't a solenoid sending unit. From the switch 12 volts goes into the engine compartment( dark blue wire )into a female bullet connector that's in the harness below the wiper motor. A short single wire harness goes down to an insulated terminal on the trans. case. The other side of this terminal goes to the solenoid on the valve body. Check for a wire short at the cowl connector. And then check the wire leading down to the trans. with the end disconnected from the trans terminal. You should not have 0 ohms at the terminal. I'm not sure what the solenoid resistance reading should be but it's not 0. I would expect that it's at least 10 ohms and it could very well be a lot higher. Make sure your ohmmeter is on the R X 1 scale.

You should not read 0 ohms between the terminal and the trans case. Since you are that means you have a dead short at the terminal itself (not likely),or a pinched / shorted wire on the other side leading to the kickdown solenoid or maybe the wire is chafed or cracked and shorted to the trans. case at where it enters the solenoid. I think it would be unlikely that the solenoid itself would be shorted. It looks like you'll find out when you drop the pan, but that's what you're going to have to do. I think you'll find your answer as soon as the pan is dropped. It's been many years since I've been inside one of these transmissions but IIRC that plastic termnal in the case has a male, blade terminal on each side. The kickdown wire attaches to the outside and I think there's a pigtail on the kickdown solenoid that attaches to the other side. Maybe the terminal on the other side is bent and touching the trans case. Should the solenoid be shorted it can be replaced without the need to remove the valve body. Jaguar used these transmissions too so if you need a solenoid and can;t source one from an AMC vendor, then a trans shop or a Jag parts specialist may have one.

Thanks George. Yes 12 volts only when fully depressed. I will drop the pan and inspect the solenoid circuit for continuity. Thanks for the help!!

Perfect! Thanks!

Just as an update:

I removed the pan and found the insulator on the wire for the kick down solenoid is gone. Result, bare wire on solenoid post. Need to replace the solenoid.