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There are/were four wires that go to the inhibitor switch and all the inhibitor switch does by use of a plunger connects the opposing wires as required. Two are for the reversing light and th eother two are for the gearbox inhibitor. By removing the inhibitor switch and directly connecting the two wires required for the starter button the car should start which ever gear you are in. Maybe they connected these two wires together and as you said you have disturbed them. If so easy fix.
My friend, you got me thinking. The shop that installed my manual transmission left the auto lever on the steering column. I don't remember having any problems with the manual transmission, but I also don't remember getting any instructions. This could totally be my bad. I was so excited to get the car, and to test the new transmission, they probably could have told me anything and I would not have been the wiser.
Long story short - I just went out to the garage, plonked the AUTO shifter to Neutral, pushed the starter and Miss Verity fired up just like normal! The car is running exactly how she is configured. At some point I should probably "fix" that but I'm not going to worry a lot about it right now.
Thanks again for the assistance. When it arrives I reckon I have a spare solenoid. If you, me and a table of your mates find ourselves in the same pub someday I'll be happy to buy you a round.
I cannot tell you how happy I am to get her moving again. Took a victory lap around the neighborhood to celebrate - and to get the old car's juices flowing again. My club has an event this weekend so I REALLY wanted to have my car on the field. Now it looks like she'll be there. Color me happy!
Glyn, I want to thank you for your support and faith as well. Please forgive me for not posting progress pics of my interior. Our weekend event has to take precedence. I'll shoot for next Monday
Glad that between us we solved the problem. As Glyn said it is a strange conversion that the garage left the Auto lever and all the electrics in place. Having said that it is a great anti theft device.lol.
Personally I would remove the lever. The two wires that are affected by the inhibitor switch I would join together so you have a permanent connection to the ignition button.
What about your reversing lights? With the Auto box set up they are also operated from the inhibitor switch under the dash. When the auto lever is put into reverse it allows a circuit to the reversing lights through the inhibitor switch. On the manual box there is a switch on the side of the gearbox which when reverse is selected the circuit is made. Which one do you have or do you not have any reversing lights at the moment?
Big manual reverse light switch. Yes ~ we don't know what 5 speed box this is & how it caters for reverse lights. There might be a redundant wire in the harness running to the top of the Moss box position but I doubt it. That is a separate sub harness.
If you do not have reversing lights you can just put an inline switch between the two reversing light terminals on the inhibitor switch and when you require the reversing lights you just throw the switch manually. There is a live wire which is Green and the wire going to the reversing lights which is Green/Brown. Put an inline switch between these and the reversing lights should work. You just have to remember to switch it back off when no longer needed or you will be showing white light to the rear.
Or before Gene fits his Skinner Carpet/underfelt kit. He can just run the required wiring down the side of the tunnel & pop it through a grommet at the gearbox as an S Type does. Not sure about the Mk2. It depends how the 5 speed caters for the reverse light. It might be at the gear selector etc.
All good things to consider. I have some "homework"
I intend to remove the "Auto" hardware from the steering column... after our event, and after I understand what needs to be done with the inhibitor switch. I will also have to check my reverse lights. I have assumed they came on when I put the stick to Reverse gear.
And near-term that Auto lever DOES seem like it could be a kind of security device. Seems like more of a "gag" device right now - lol
Glyn is being kind calling my shift lever "fancy". I think it's "gaudy as" and needs to be covered by a shift lever boot as soon as possible. I think our automobile is classier than that shift lever.
When you remove the Auto gear change you might have to buy a second hand Nacelle / steering column cover as the auto one was different from the manual type.
The late Devildog's car when I explained to him the standard routing of the Manual Gearbox with OD car's wiring sub harness for reverse lights, OD engagement, & OD reverse gear inhibitor switch. This obviously before his car went for soda blasting.
As far as Joe got prior to passing on. His son is completing the project.
This was our Ms Verity at Portland, Oregon's All-British Field meet. Thanks to everyone who, through your support or technical assistance, have helped to get her here:
Wow! I take it as a great compliment that you are paying attention to my rebuild. Of course you are correct. I'll have some pics up in the next couple of days.
Last edited by gene61jag; Oct 18, 2021 at 11:52 AM.
Cass is my hero!
Yes ~ we don't know what 5 speed box this is & how it caters for reverse lights. There might be a redundant wire in the harness running to the top of the Moss box position but I doubt it. That is a separate sub harness.
