KA Laser not kicking down.

fairmont1998 · 30-01-2005, 10:56 PM

This is a quiet section! Hope someone can help.

We have a KA Laser as a run around car and the auto in it does not kick down until you use full throttle. I have noticed a pipe on the auto that looks like it should have a vac hose on it but it doesn't. Also I can't see any hoses adrift in the engine bay. Does it need to be connected to vacuum and where do I connect the hose to for the vacuum?
I have pointed out the connection on the auto in the attachment.

fairmont1998 · 30-01-2005, 10:57 PM

How do I get the image to display and not the link, damn it!

dozer · 03-02-2005, 07:44 PM

Those autos should have an electric kick down, which is a switch located at the accel pedal. As far as i am aware there is no vac signal there.

fairmont1998 · 03-02-2005, 10:03 PM

The electric kickdown is the WOT kickdown, ie 3rd to 1st. This specimen won't even kickdown from 3rd to 2nd when you come out of a corner at 25-30 km/h. Makes for some spirited driving with the old 1.5 litre ;)

Chrisshu · 10-03-2010, 09:09 AM

Hi, there is a switch on the accellerator that can be adjusted. With ign on but not started, push down acc and you shoul hear a click from the relay. Chrisshu

phantom_87 · 13-03-2010, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fairmont1998

This is a quiet section! Hope someone can help.

We have a KA Laser as a run around car and the auto in it does not kick down until you use full throttle. I have noticed a pipe on the auto that looks like it should have a vac hose on it but it doesn't. Also I can't see any hoses adrift in the engine bay. Does it need to be connected to vacuum and where do I connect the hose to for the vacuum?
I have pointed out the connection on the auto in the attachment.

That is normal for KA Lasers kick down switch should only operate at full throttle and very reluctant to drop back to second out of corners until you give it full throttle then it will kickback to first not second.When they were first released back in the 80's we would get this complaint all the time.After enough complaints Ford had a couple of selected dealers with automatic section to come up with a quick and easy fix.What was eventually came out of this was a simple valve body mod by adding a small spring at the bottom off the 2-3 shift valve bore.The spring had to be light enough not to effect up-shift but heavy enough to assist it to change back to 2nd under vacuum rather than putting your foot down and operating the kick down switch This made it much nicer to drive but was only done on customer complaint bases only.You could try a longer modulator pin but this will cause higher shift points though.
The pipe you are looking at would more than likely be the breather if it is the the one on top of the auto next to the three bolt dome like cover(governor)

fairmont1998 · 14-03-2010, 09:40 PM

Wow, old thread revived!
I never persued that issue but the car has moved on now.
Thanks for the answer phantom_87.

tick5.0 · 14-03-2010, 09:49 PM

That got me going, thought you might have got nostalgic and traded in the XR4 Darin.

fairmont1998 · 15-03-2010, 08:28 PM

LOL, bought the mustard yellow rocket back? God help me if I did!