Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: SMD on 18 January 2012, 16:25:21

Title: Is this the kickdown switch cable?
Post by: SMD on 18 January 2012, 16:25:21
I noticed this cable unplugged while inspecting the brake fluid. I thought it might be the power sounder but that looks like its connected. Is it the kickdown cable?

(http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t440/Zaf_Yousef/IMAG0171.jpg)
Title: Re: Is this the kickdown switch cable?
Post by: albitz on 18 January 2012, 16:36:42
Looks like the coolant level sensor plug to me. :-\
Title: Re: Is this the kickdown switch cable?
Post by: andyc on 18 January 2012, 16:40:34
Kick down on these cars is all done via the ECU from various readings from different sensors like the TPS.

There are quite a few disconnected plugs all over the car, just depends what spec the car is as the wether that connector is used.

By the look of it it could be for the Cruise control if its a 2.5/3.0 or the aux electric water pump

Cheers
Andy

Title: Re: Is this the kickdown switch cable?
Post by: SMD on 18 January 2012, 16:49:25
Thanks for the replies. It's not cruise for sure because that works, could be coolant though. I thought kickdown because I remember seeing a picture of it on here under the scuttle looking exactly like that and also because when I floor it it doesn't seem to change down.
Title: Re: Is this the kickdown switch cable?
Post by: dbug on 19 January 2012, 18:11:03
Agree with Albs - fits on the bottom of plastic coolant expansion bottle.
Title: Re: Is this the kickdown switch cable?
Post by: SMD on 19 January 2012, 20:44:25
There is already similar looking connector connected to the bottom of the expansion tank :y. Tried to get under the scuttle to day but couldn't even get the wiper arm off. Tried pressing the arm down and lifting it but it didn't budge. On my last omega I used water pump pliers and got it off but scratched it a bit not not wanting to go down that route.

I saw a picture inside the scuttle and remember someone saying a similar looking connector was for the kickdown, can't find that thread now. My car is the 01 3.2 model if that helps.  But for some reason my car doesn't kickdown and when the throttle is buried it feels like a 1.8
Title: Re: Is this the kickdown switch cable?
Post by: Andy B on 19 January 2012, 20:58:56
.....
I saw a picture inside the scuttle and remember someone saying a similar looking connector was for the kickdown, can't find that thread now. My car is the 01 3.2 model if that helps.  But for some reason my car doesn't kickdown and when the throttle is buried it feels like a 1.8

You can't find a kick down switch cos there ain't one. 3.2 & 2.6 are drive by wire and don't have a throttle cable, all done on the electric throttle & ecu


It'll be the bonnet switch for the alarm .................. that's my guess anyway  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Is this the kickdown switch cable?
Post by: SMD on 19 January 2012, 22:02:49
I see, is there any way to test this?

What could the the reason for the lack of pace? I think I need to get one of the specialists down here
Title: Re: Is this the kickdown switch cable?
Post by: Andy B on 19 January 2012, 22:07:25
I see, is there any way to test this?

What could the the reason for the lack of pace? I think I need to get one of the specialists down here

Not sure how the DBW throttle works in practice. Don't know if it's just how far the throttle is pushed or if it's how far and how fast it's pushed to make the kick down work.  SWMBO's DBW Smart does seem to have a switch at the far end of the travel to make it kick down ...  :-\ :-\
Title: Re: Is this the kickdown switch cable?
Post by: SMD on 19 January 2012, 22:31:57
I can feel the switch when the pedal reaches the floor, there is a click but nothing special happens. Most of the time it stays in the same gear and gradually (slowly) picks up speed. Maybe that's just how fast these cars are and I'm expecting too much 
Title: Re: Is this the kickdown switch cable?
Post by: Andy B on 19 January 2012, 22:33:48
I can feel the switch when the pedal reaches the floor, there is a click but nothing special happens. Most of the time it stays in the same gear and gradually (slowly) picks up speed. Maybe that's just how fast these cars are and I'm expecting too much

That doesn't sound right, it should shift down a gear unless you're doing silly mph. It should come out of top even at motorway speeds.
Title: Re: Is this the kickdown switch cable?
Post by: SMD on 19 January 2012, 22:49:30
Occasionaly it feels like its downshifted. It feels faster in sport using half throttle than WOT. I have a crappy pattern exhaust on there but that was fitted last year so it can't be that. The multirams work. Not sure how to check for vac leaks. No fault codes. ATF wad topped up last year by Wellung
Title: Re: Is this the kickdown switch cable?
Post by: Andy B on 19 January 2012, 22:57:58
Occasionaly it feels like its downshifted. It feels faster in sport using half throttle than WOT. I have a crappy pattern exhaust on there but that was fitted last year so it can't be that. The multirams work. Not sure how to check for vac leaks. No fault codes. ATF wad topped up last year by Wellung

Spray something flammable around anywhere where there are vacuum lines and all around the plenum chamber where something is bolted to it, if you have a leak it'' suck the 'fuel' in & your revs will increase.  :y :y
Title: Re: Is this the kickdown switch cable?
Post by: SMD on 19 January 2012, 23:20:48
Spray something flammable and around the engine bay and if there is a leak it will suck it in and the revs will rise? Is that a joke?  ;D  Is there a less dangerous way?
Title: Re: Is this the kickdown switch cable?
Post by: Andy B on 19 January 2012, 23:26:04
Spray something flammable and around the engine bay and if there is a leak it will suck it in and the revs will rise? Is that a joke?  ;D  Is there a less dangerous way?

OK OK .........  ;) spray carb cleaner in an aerosol, I didn't mean for you to spray gallons of avgas around your engine bay  :y :y :y
Title: Re: Is this the kickdown switch cable?
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 20 January 2012, 08:53:53
Kick down swithces are only on the 2.5 and 3.0 V6's (drivers side near the scuttle).

On drive by wire they will use the accelerator position value and possibly also the differential of the accelerator position to give rate of change (e.g. how fast have you pressed it).

The connector in question is for the bonnet switch (standard loom)
Title: Re: Is this the kickdown switch cable?
Post by: 2woody on 20 January 2012, 09:04:08
I'm fairly sure it is for the kick-down switch, on pre-facelift cars, the kickdown switch is in the throttle cable, just where this would attach to.

I have also seen unused kickdown switch connectors still fitted to facelift cars where there isn't a switch.

Other options are :-

bonnet switch ( but it's on the wrong side of the car )
coolant level sensor ( but you've already got one of those )
aux coolant pump ( but it comes out of the wrong harness )
powersounder ( too few wires )

any chance of posting up the colours of the wires ?
Title: Re: Is this the kickdown switch cable?
Post by: Elite Pete on 20 January 2012, 09:05:11
As Mark says, the alarm switch on the 2.6/3.2 is located on the drivers side inner wing/strut top instead of the power steering fluid bottle of the earlier cars
Title: Re: Is this the kickdown switch cable?
Post by: 2woody on 20 January 2012, 09:07:57
aren't all of the PAS bottles on the passenger side ?
Title: Re: Is this the kickdown switch cable?
Post by: Elite Pete on 20 January 2012, 09:10:13
aren't all of the PAS bottles on the passenger side ?

Yep, but on the 2.6/3.2 the bonnet alarm switch has been moved to the driver side strut top ;)
Title: Re: Is this the kickdown switch cable?
Post by: 2woody on 20 January 2012, 09:12:32
could be that then - it's certainly the right connector style
Title: Re: Is this the kickdown switch cable?
Post by: Andy B on 20 January 2012, 09:17:17
aren't all of the PAS bottles on the passenger side ?

Yep, but on the 2.6/3.2 the bonnet alarm switch has been moved to the driver side strut top ;)

Hence my suggestion of bonnet switch.  :y :y :y
For some reason, even when the bonnet switch is fitted to the driver's side of the car, the plug  can still be found on the passenger side too.   :-\
Title: Re: Is this the kickdown switch cable?
Post by: kcl on 20 January 2012, 09:44:58
aren't all of the PAS bottles on the passenger side ?

Yep, but on the 2.6/3.2 the bonnet alarm switch has been moved to the driver side strut top ;)

Hence my suggestion of bonnet switch.  :y :y :y
For some reason, even when the bonnet switch is fitted to the driver's side of the car, the plug  can still be found on the passenger side too.   :-\

And that might be due two versions of Omegas, one with steering on the correct side and one for the other  :-X On my car, without alarm, there's the same connector and it's on the right side of the car (drivers side in your cars). Not all the looms were made to fit only the other version, some "universal" looms have been used.
Title: Re: Is this the kickdown switch cable?
Post by: Paddy Flannery on 20 January 2012, 19:58:27
Just been out to my 2003 2.6. That plug is fitted to my bonnet alarm switch. Has the whole switch maybe been removed from yours ? They as a bit tempremental and can cause false alarm activations.

Mine is on a bracket fitted to the offside strut. In your photo, I would have expected the sensor to be on the strut just to the right of the reservoir. Hope that helps identify the plug.

Sorry I can't advise re- lack of kickdown, but my kickdown is fine and I'll be in NW London tomorrow if you want to jump in with me to feel how the kickdown should work.

PM me if you wish.

Good luck. 
Title: Re: Is this the kickdown switch cable?
Post by: SMD on 20 January 2012, 22:01:32
Thanks for the replies. The bonnet switch is still in the car, so looks like it disconnected at the other end.

Title: Re: Is this the kickdown switch cable?
Post by: Paddy Flannery on 20 January 2012, 22:45:53
You have a PM.
Title: Re: Is this the kickdown switch cable?
Post by: SMD on 22 January 2012, 00:33:34
How much does aircon affect performance? Well I found out today, it makes a 3.2l go like a 2l. Don't want to come across as an idiot, I know aircon saps power but didn't think it would be this much. Gave myself a bit of a scare today. Thinking back, it did make a big difference on my mini facelift 2.5 manual.

Anyone else notice this?
Title: Re: Is this the kickdown switch cable?
Post by: Entwood on 22 January 2012, 20:46:44
How much does aircon affect performance? Well I found out today, it makes a 3.2l go like a 2l. Don't want to come across as an idiot, I know aircon saps power but didn't think it would be this much. Gave myself a bit of a scare today. Thinking back, it did make a big difference on my mini facelift 2.5 manual.

Anyone else notice this?

On my 3.2 the aircon makes no appreciable difference whatsoever .. I defy anyone to be able to tell if it is on or off simply by performance "feel" .

I would humbly suggest you have some serious problem if it makes that much difference ....
Title: Re: Is this the kickdown switch cable?
Post by: SMD on 22 January 2012, 21:21:10
Thats not good to hear.  :-\