If you ever have a break in the wire at the solenoid you could try this repair I did on my 1984 245 “Buster” (so named as he was brown, not because he constantly needed fixin’).

The break had developed immediately under the integral rubber cap, which was cracked. My fix was to solder the wire at the break and then reseal the top of the solenoid using a combination of heat shrink tubing and RTV silicone.

The heat shrink tubing may not be readily apparent as it was clear, something I just happened to have on hand.



Safety wire was used to prevent tension on repaired wire which could cause soldered joint to come apart.

Tatra Mike
Seattle, Washington

1985 244 "Alfsen" (wife's car - the good one)
1984 245 "Buster" (the kid's car, now sold)
1985 245 "Cosmo" (parts car, sold off for move to WA)
1985 245 "Daisy" (back seat down, full of tools, the work truck)
1985 245 "Earl (CA vehicle 'retirement' program)
1985 244 "Junker 1"(Awaiting cannibalization)

Can you tell I prefer the 1985 model 240? Better headlights than the plastic 1986+ and nicer belt adjustments than the 1984s and earlier!

I often drive from here to well past Uncle Udo's house with a 36 year old 240 in third gear on I-90 across Indiana. Noisy? Yes. But not so much as I'd want to take the trouble to switch to an overdrive transmission. No harm done.

http://cleanflametrap.com/pub_autoOD/
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

England has no kidney bank, but it does have a Liverpool.

I drove with just 3 gears for a couple of years until I got the ipd bypass plate
I think it will last in 3rd at 60 till ya get a fix

gc

I really hope that mess of text is because you posted from your phone.

That tranny originally had no OD gear hanging off the back and was sold that way until the early 1980's You fine to drive it that way but it is loud.

Alternatively you can just do the dremel modification where you remove the inner o-ring of the solenoid and cut a channel between the two. I would not do it with minimal tools while on the road but if the running at 4000+ rpms annoys you, it is an option.