why would the overdrive gear just quit suddenly? for the last few months it has been shifting consistently at 38mph into 4th.. no problem.. then suddenly not. the light on the dash illuminates on/off when the o/d button on the shifter is depressed. relay is clicking. no 11 fuse has power. any ideas???
trans oil was changed a few months ago for the same issue. mech had to blow out fluid from the (new) solenoid to get it working but then has performed w/ no problems.
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'92 240 208k totalled 4/14 - '91 240 192k miles

Since you have juice, you can possibly rule out the overdrive relay. That is the most common reason for an OD failure in a 240. However, if it were my car, I'd pull the relay and look for burn/scorch marks. FYI - the relay can work fine when cold but when it heats up it will fail.

Also have your mechanic check the front section of the wiring that runs from the shifter through the shifter tunnel under the car to the solenoid. On my 1990, after years of rubbing on the lower metal edge of the tunnel (underneath), the wires corroded, stripped and shorted out causing my OD to fail.

broken cable???


Had this happen to me once.

Can you pull on the cable freely???

Check the wire running to the solenoid. Many times the insulation has flaked off and the wire corroded. Need to get under the car for this.

Also, if the solenoid got clogged once and just fluid change was done, it can likely happen again.

Better to do the flush as outlined in the FAQ's and check the wiring while you are down there.

thanks all unfortunately i can't get under the car easily/safely due no jackstands/proper jack. i checked all i could from above with test light/meter all had juice/fuse 11 good.

i will have my indy look underneath tomorrow when he does the rear brakes
and the car is on the lift
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'92 240 208k totalled 4/14 - '91 240 192k miles

For future reference, this and a lot of other stuff can be done with just a set of ramps that cost about the same a .25-.5 shop hours at that Indy mechanic. I your case you are already going there so not harm, no foul.

bahh, the o/d self healed ... the question is why? my indy indicated that if the wire down to the solenoid was chafing etc it would pop the fuse... but the fuse never popped. maybe gunk in the passages worked its way out? or maybe the relay... which seems to work and click etc was making some kind of intermittent contact inside? a mystery ..
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'92 240 208k totalled 4/14 - '91 240 192k miles

I had an intermittent OD which led me to search for the root cause.

http://cleanflametrap.com/#links

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Art Benstein near Baltimore

Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.

i did read your write ups, however the solenoid was brand new few months ago. at that time the connector wiring was replaced as well. will see how it goes...
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'92 240 208k totalled 4/14 - '91 240 192k miles

Yes, brand new. Just fixed.

Not saying you'll find the same root cause as I, but the method for troubleshooting an intermittent was where I felt the document was valuable.

Given the under car work is to be avoided if at all possible, in your situation, I'd prepare now to make a test when the outage recurs. The test prep could be simply to keep a Phillips and a paper clip in your glove box. Yes, I know, the 93 glove box ain't easy, but you need to pull it to reach the relay, right?

Then you could use the paper clip to jump the 15 terminal to the 87 terminal on the relay socket with the key on and the doors shut, listening for the clunk beneath your feet and observing the small spark when making the connection.

If you hear it, you could start the car and take it for a drive to see if you've fixed it with the paper clip firmly pushed into the socket, and that OD relay rattling around in the glove box.

Then, if you have fixed it, you could be headed in the electrical direction (relay, crusty fuse) or if you haven't fixed it, in the hydraulic direction (crud fell in when the work was being done).

That logic isn't really well explained in my old write-ups.
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Art Benstein near Baltimore

Mothers of teens now know why some animals eat their young.

actually i did the 15 to 87 paper clip jumper the last time it wasn't working and it didn't fix it so i was on to the new solenoid & wiring.
i thought then that meant the relay was not the culprit but maybe now i'll try that test again if the o/d goes out. thanks for the suggestion.
by the way i did not find that the '91 glovebox was all that hard to remove.

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'92 240 208k totalled 4/14 - '91 240 192k miles

OK, I think you are all set. Dunno where I got that 93 from. Musta been thinking of Ken's $750 sale. Frankly I hope you have a botched connection rather than a bum solenoid or hunk of crud in the transmission. :)
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Art Benstein near Baltimore

If speed counted, rabbits would rule the world.

well, the o/d stopped working again so i jumpered the 15 and 87 terminal which made it operate again. need to get a replacement relay. is there any harm/risk in leaving the paper clip in there in the meantime?
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'92 240 208k totalled 4/14 - '91 240 192k miles

"is there any harm/risk in leaving the paper clip in there in the meantime?"

Beyond the obvious risk it might come into contact with some metal and blow the fuse, none whatsoever.

To get the overdrive disable function back on the shifter, consider pulling the cover from the white box and touching up the solder joints where the heavy frame of the relay itself passes through the holes in the circuit board. As Don Foster told us years ago, "zero dollars."
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Art Benstein near Baltimore

A lot of money is tainted. 'Taint yours and 'taint mine.

was able to get another relay on ebay....
for reference the original part number is Hella 3528304 (white relay)

i'm keeping the paper clip in the glovebox!
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'92 240 208k totalled 4/14 - '91 240 192k miles