#1  
Old 01-19-2022, 01:11 PM
unruhjonny's Avatar
unruhjonny unruhjonny is offline
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Default Testing a TCS solenoid

Hello;

A member recently reached out to me about selling a spare TCS solenoid.

Skipping ahead, I noticed that there are very few on ebay, and from what I saw appears that the average asking price is somewhere around $100/ea!
(the image is of three I just found, I had found more on my last search, but they appear to be few and far between right now)



Honestly, I knew these were hard to find, bu the current asking prices still surprised me.

So I am wondering if there is a way I can test these;
Is it just a simple continuity test?

I think I may create a for sale thread, but before hand I'd like to see if they are functional or not - that way the potential buyer knows what to expect.

Can someone help me out?
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1970 Formula 400
Carousel Red paint on Black standard interior
A no-engine, no-transmission, no-wheel option car.
Quite likely one of few '70 Muncie three speed Formula 400's left.


1991 Grand Am: 14.4 @ 93.7mph (DA corrected) (retired DD, stock appearing)
2009 Cobalt SS: 13.9 @ 103mph (current DD; makes something north of 300hp & 350ft/lbs)
  #2  
Old 01-19-2022, 02:25 PM
Bill Hanlon's Avatar
Bill Hanlon Bill Hanlon is offline
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Actually applying 12v across the solenoid and watching/listening for activation would be better than just a continuity test.

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Old 01-19-2022, 02:36 PM
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unruhjonny unruhjonny is offline
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Thank you for that!

I'm going to guess it's going to have a polarity, do you know hoe to tell which terminal should have positive, and which one should be negative?

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1970 Formula 400
Carousel Red paint on Black standard interior
A no-engine, no-transmission, no-wheel option car.
Quite likely one of few '70 Muncie three speed Formula 400's left.


1991 Grand Am: 14.4 @ 93.7mph (DA corrected) (retired DD, stock appearing)
2009 Cobalt SS: 13.9 @ 103mph (current DD; makes something north of 300hp & 350ft/lbs)
  #4  
Old 01-19-2022, 04:45 PM
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dataway dataway is offline
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Take a look at this:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/174086490379

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  #5  
Old 01-19-2022, 04:48 PM
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unruhjonny unruhjonny is offline
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wow!



That's an idle solenoid (not a TCS solenoid);
The bracket it's attached to goes under the front left carb bolt, and I believe it essentially bumps up the idle in low vacuum situations.

I actually had one of those, it needed repair to the solenoid, but I sold it for nothing compared to that one!

lol!!
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1970 Formula 400
Carousel Red paint on Black standard interior
A no-engine, no-transmission, no-wheel option car.
Quite likely one of few '70 Muncie three speed Formula 400's left.


1991 Grand Am: 14.4 @ 93.7mph (DA corrected) (retired DD, stock appearing)
2009 Cobalt SS: 13.9 @ 103mph (current DD; makes something north of 300hp & 350ft/lbs)
  #6  
Old 01-19-2022, 08:18 PM
gto4ben gto4ben is offline
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I found that the plastic nipples can develop a crack resulting in a vacuum leak. This will result in no distributor vacuum advance at cold and at hot when in high gear. I attached some notes I made to help with your testing.
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Old 01-20-2022, 06:22 AM
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dataway dataway is offline
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jonny ... so you are talking about the solenoid they use on the manual trans cars ... sorry, I was confused. I was reading the thread because I need one of those $400-700 idle solenoids

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  #8  
Old 01-20-2022, 10:26 AM
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unruhjonny unruhjonny is offline
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these ones are an early emmissions device, they were used to disable the vacuum advace in top gear.

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1970 Formula 400
Carousel Red paint on Black standard interior
A no-engine, no-transmission, no-wheel option car.
Quite likely one of few '70 Muncie three speed Formula 400's left.


1991 Grand Am: 14.4 @ 93.7mph (DA corrected) (retired DD, stock appearing)
2009 Cobalt SS: 13.9 @ 103mph (current DD; makes something north of 300hp & 350ft/lbs)
  #9  
Old 01-20-2022, 12:15 PM
tjs72lemans tjs72lemans is offline
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Unfortunately the ebay seller is trying to find a sucker. I see that from time to time on easy to find parts that are worth way less and someone asking as outlandish price. The TCS on mine is for an auto trans. And that listed idle stop solenoid engages on start up and bumps idle to where you set it. When shut down, the power is cut and causes the idle to go less than what car would run at, eliminating run on or detonation issues.

  #10  
Old 01-20-2022, 12:32 PM
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unruhjonny unruhjonny is offline
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I would think that throttle setup is QUITE hard to find;
I have only ever come across the one.




I agree that the ebay seller of the throttle stop is way high - but these have never been cheap.

Back to the TCS solenoids, if they are selling at, or around $80usd (plus shipping) then the market is dictating the prices.
I am unaware of these ever (ok, since I got my car in the mid 1990's) being sold as replacement parts - just normally disconnected, or tossed all together.
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1970 Formula 400
Carousel Red paint on Black standard interior
A no-engine, no-transmission, no-wheel option car.
Quite likely one of few '70 Muncie three speed Formula 400's left.


1991 Grand Am: 14.4 @ 93.7mph (DA corrected) (retired DD, stock appearing)
2009 Cobalt SS: 13.9 @ 103mph (current DD; makes something north of 300hp & 350ft/lbs)
  #11  
Old 01-20-2022, 09:08 PM
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necdb3 necdb3 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by unruhjonny View Post
these ones are an early emmissions device, they were used to disable the vacuum advace in top gear.
It disables in lower gears, enables in 4th gear (man) above 38mph (Auto) both at normal op temps. Also enables on cold engines and over heating engines in any gear or speed.

  #12  
Old 01-20-2022, 10:27 PM
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unruhjonny unruhjonny is offline
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really!?
If so, I had no idea.

I could have sworn the wiring I have seen went to the top gear (s/t), then when the gear engaged, it closed(? maybe opened) the circuit, which in turn cuts the vacuum from the distributor advance, leaving it to mechanical advance only.

Maybe later years were tied into a thermostatic switch??

__________________
1970 Formula 400
Carousel Red paint on Black standard interior
A no-engine, no-transmission, no-wheel option car.
Quite likely one of few '70 Muncie three speed Formula 400's left.


1991 Grand Am: 14.4 @ 93.7mph (DA corrected) (retired DD, stock appearing)
2009 Cobalt SS: 13.9 @ 103mph (current DD; makes something north of 300hp & 350ft/lbs)
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