Thread: no kickdown connected - possible damage?

In theory yes it can harm the box so don't take this as a guarantee you won't hurt the box.

I have driven some 10,000 km in an auto with no kick down connected. It coped fine.
always manually change up and down or it will try to take of in the upper gears. also change down on hills even if you have to slow down a bit. Use the tacho to judge is the box is slipping and watch the temps.

If when slowing it does the gear dance lock it down to the lower of the gears.

Conservatively driven an auto box can last for ages without a kickdown cable. The increased line pressure with higher throttle engages the clutches faster, reducing slip during gear changes. So I would say you are OK so far. Not to be recommended for normal use though.

It controls line pressure on auto's that don't have vacuum modulation or electronic, that controls the pressure applied to the clutches under load, more load=more pressure

Putting around won't trash it a liitle should be fine, no heavy throttle though

Originally Posted by pibby

98 petrol auto disco does not have a kickdown cable connected.

car was not being driven whilst putting a thor manifold on then money got tight so had to sell my other disco and before you know it voila left without a car. took car for roadworthy and has been mentioned can damage auto if drive with no kickdown. the only driving is to the roadworthy place and drove there in 2nd gear. take off in first and shift manually to second at the normal shift points. and drove like an old lady.

so in general what does the kickdown cable do normally when connected other than well......kickdown a gear or two? i've read it controls line pressure but can't say i really understand what that means.

intuitively i thought if i drive in the aforementioned manner it would keep the oil up to the clutches and ensure any load and slip was minimised so as a short term measure to get to the roadworthy place and back it wouldn't/shouldn't do any damage. have one more trip to make.

this sound reasonable or have i been a d'head?

Why don't you put a kickdown cable in it, that goes for George 130 as well, it's not hard to do, esp. if you do it while doing a service (filter change), Regards Frank.
P.S. I used an XF 6 cylinder Falcon kickdown cable, a lot cheaper.

thanks for the replies.

sounds like the box should be ok. i did a bit of searching prior on internet but there were different answers for same question then it turns out it is box specific whether it will do any damage ie what type of auto it is and how it has been setup etc.

frank - don't need a cable, it's already there. need to make a kickdown bracket to connect it to!

Originally Posted by pibby

sounds like the box should be ok. i did a bit of searching prior on internet but there were different answers for same question then it turns out it is box specific whether it will do any damage ie what type of auto it is and how it has been setup etc.

Like I said, if it don't have a vacuum hose, or lots of wires, the kickdown controls line pressure

frank - don't need a cable, it's already there. need to make a kickdown bracket to connect it to!

And that my friend will take a while!!
I think you have seen the photos of mine.
Regards Philip A