1996 Fairway taxi overdrive question

[saucedoctor]

As above, sort of. My business partner has an Imperial wedding car, based on the above, and I noticed there's a wee switch on the dash panel marked "OVERDRIVE"

 

Nissan 2.7 non turbo, dunno WTF the gearbox is. Auto.

 

How does one use this, under what circs, and while I understand the basic principle of overdrive, what is likely to happen if this is turned on?

 

Thanks all.

[Cavcraft]

Motorway or bypass use, hit the switch it drops the rev in top gear to save fuel. Never consider using it if you plan to overtake anybody as it simply won't happen. They are slow enough as it is. Really, desperately slow.

When I drove the ex-Autoshite-Ken's one back from London I actually gave up trying to overtake lorries in it at several points.

[saucedoctor]

Brilliant. Cheers Cav.

 

Now here's another question: with the light in the switch on, is the overdrive on? Or off? I've read both

[Cavcraft]

From distant memory I think it means it's on.

[Cavcraft]

*Though he'll know by driving it, just flick the switch and listen to the engine note.

[saucedoctor]

Cheers bud, much appreciated. That thing is a SLUG, so if Davy's been using the overdrive wrongly all this time it hasn't made matters any better.

 

Ta muchly.

[Cavcraft]

For the ultimate misery I double dare you to put veg oil in it. Driving over a speed bump is like trying to drive up Everest in a Reliant Robin cement mixer running on one cylinder.