This page describes the basics of installing a parallel kickdown swicth in my car, an 87 S4 with a 4speed automatic transmission.
In normal everyday driving, passing traffic or merging on to the freeway for example, inorder to get the transmission to downshift to a lower gear you have to "FLOOR" the accelerator until the pedal CLOSES the kickdown contact. As you know this is quite fun : ) .....but it can be even funner when you can get the transmission to downshift earlier, under "partial" throttle applications and then hold the gear a bit longer!
There are several other parameters that the cars "brains" take into account when DOWNSHIFTING the transmission but i wont get into those. If you are cruising down the interstate at a constant 60mph and flip the toggle for your kickdown, the car WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY DOWNSHIFT!!!!!!! This is quite a misconception with this little aftermarket modification that many of us do. Other parameters MUST be met....but...like i said, when they are, you will find that the car will downshift much earlier!! This makes for a much "livelier" tranny and drive : )
Items that you may need..
1) Wire, length to be determined where you put your switch. I used 13 guage wire, very similar to the thickness found on the original swicth.
2) 2 wire splicers that you will use to splice your wires in parallel to the cars.
3) A "manual" switching mechanism.....ie toggle..pushbutton etc etc. I used a toggle switch. I cant recall what AMP load the swicth was rated at that i used but the kickdown circuit per the FUSE CHART is rated at a 5amp fuse, go from there.
4) A few connectors for your switch.
5) A location to mount it.......I placed my toggle next to the parking brake and ran the wire under the carpet. So happend that there was already a hole in the carpet covered metal shroud around the parking brake handle assembly. All i had to do was poke a hole in the carpet above the opening. I find this area pretty convenient to use......FLIP the swicth AFT and the cars kickdown is bypassed
Below is a basic schematic and some pictures of my installation..
the type wire
splicer that i used
this
shows the KICKDOWN SWITCH and how i spliced my wires into the
cars (in parallel). The kick down switch sits behind the
"BWAAAAAAHHHH Pedal" : )
You dont have to remove the original connection from the cars switch..... this way if you want to floor it and still have the original configuration, you can.
this shows the
simple toggle switch i used and where i mounted it. Eventually i
plan on using a bush button setup on the "T" gear
selector via a small relay. The wires were simpley routed around
the edge of the carpet, under the floor mat.
THATS IT!!! When you want an earlier down shift, just flip the switch back(closing it)...and hold on! It really does make a difference in the way the car drives and how the tranny is utilized.
Another modification you can do to the transmissions shifting is to adjust the vacuum modulator on the side of the transmission. This adjustment will change the firmness of the shifts. The modulator is on the driverside of the transmission under a black rubber cap. You will have to get the car up on the ramps to gain access to the tranny. When the cap is removed you will see a green plastic fitting with a small strip of metal in it. With a small screw driver pry up the piece of metal and you will see that it becomes a "T". To adjust the shifting just turn the "T" either clockwise (FIRMER SHIFTS) or counterclockwise (SOFTER SHIFTS). If you want to go to full FIRM simpley remove the vacuum line and cap it as well as the fitting on the modulator. Below are a few pictures of what i am talking about.
drivers
side of the tranny. Cap sits on a GREEN plastic base.
Cap
removed exposes the "T"
heres
the"T" exposed.