It is my standard behavior to drive in a relatively passive manner while listening to AM radio. Last weekend, however, I tuned to the FM dial and was roused by a spectacular bit of electric guitar and decided to see if my kickdown switch was still operable. As I floored the accelerator I engaged the kickdown and away I went.

Regrettably, my burst of enthusiasm has left me with a '84 500 SEC that is mired in perpetual kickdown. Initially I thought that the kickdown switch had simply become jammed or stuck in a depressed position. This was not the case. I replaced the switch with a spare and no change. I powered up the solenoid at the rear of the transmission and found it to be working as it should. I tried eliminating the electrical component by driving with the kickdown solenoid unplugged. No change. I ascertained that the kickdown cable had not become untethered at the throttle connection and followed it to the transmission case and it appears to be in it's proper position.

I dropped the oil pan and found nothing unusual. Changed the filter and re-filled with ATF. I remain stuck in what I believe to be 2nd Gear. I travel at 25 m.p.h. at @ 2600 r.p.m.'s. Being cautious I try to maintain low r.p.m.'s until I can properly diagnose the problem. I asked a friend to test drive the car and, not quite as gentle as I, he reported that he did get an upshift near redline.

I am interested to determine if there is a solution short of a rebuild. Can the B2 Brake Band Piston create such a predicament? A restricted valve body? I do engage reverse and there is no "slippage" as I understand it. When placed into "D" the transmission engages with nothing out of the ordinary to note until I accelerate. My speedometer is functioning properly. No vacuum leaks that I can ascertain. My transmission is a 733.311 02 427412.

Thank you in advance for any replies.

Cheers,

William



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