Nice to hear such a clear and concise overdrive function description and explanation.
Nice you were able to trace down the trouble accurately and remedy it.
I’d guess there are overdrives scrapped unnecessarily over similar situations!
I once put an extra manual interruptor switch to the solenoid on an old Plymouth, so that I could “downshift” with a slight lifting of the foot feed. Seemed so much calmer than the “flooring it”move! I love overdrives!