Volvo RWD 200 Forum

INDEX FOR 10/2025(CURRENT) INDEX FOR 8/2001 200 INDEX

[<<]  [>>]


THREADED THREADED EXPANDED FLAT PRINT ALL
MESSAGES IN THIS THREAD




  REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

OD switch 200 1980

I am interested in switching the overdrive switch on my 1980 245, which is the type with a sliding piece that is either in the on or off position, with a newer style switch that is a button that is pushed. My question is, will this work? Are the solenoids the same? The newer style will switch off when you shift out of 4th and that is the feature I am after. Can I just switch the switches or would I have to mess around underneath the car and get dirty?








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE Replies to this message will be emailed.    PRINT   SAVE 

    OD switch 200 1980

    My WDM is for a 1978, but your 1980 is probably the same.

    With the slide switch, it's a simple thing. Switch on, power from Fuse #3 goes through switch to two places, one being the OD light on the dash. The other place is the fourth gear inhibitor switch. You should find a red wire under the gear shifter boot that goes down to outside the car, that's the one to the 4th gear switch.

    IF that switch is closed, then power gets to the OD solenoid and thence to ground. Pretty straight forward layout.

    With the toggle on-off system, things are more complicated. You still have the same solenoid and inhibitor switch, but there's a whiz-bang electronic relay in the circuit. It's mounted under the RH center air vent, accessable by removing the glove box.

    Power goes from the fuse panel to BOTH the relay and the push button. The other wire from the push button switch goes back to the relay. Then one wire from the relay goes to the green light on the dash, and two wires, a red and a white, go down the shifter well to the transmission. The red one (on the 1984 240) to the 4th gear inhibitor switch, and the yellow one to the solenoid.

    So, as Don Foster said, get the WHOLE wiring harness from the donor car. AND the relay. Note that relay for std shift is NOT the same as for automatic.

    Good Luck,

    Bob

    :>)








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE Replies to this message will be emailed.    PRINT   SAVE 

    OD switch 200 1980

    "...switching the overdrive switch on my 1980 245, which is the type with a sliding piece that is either in the on or off position, with a newer style switch that is a button that is pushed. My question is, will this work?"

    Yep. But you must also get the complete OD harness, including the wire to the button and the relay. And the knob.

    "Are the solenoids the same?"

    Yep.

    "Can I just switch the switches or would I have to mess around underneath the car and get dirty?"

    But getting dirty's half the fun!

    Both transmissions have a fourth gear lockout switch mounted in the tranny top cover. The OD harness that you scrounge should have a lead going to that switch. However, you *might* need the newer switch from the donor car. (It's been so long that I don't remember if the older and newer switches are the same.)
    --
    Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)







<< < > >>



©Jarrod Stenberg 1997-2022. All material except where indicated.


All participants agree to these terms.

Brickboard.com is not affiliated with nor sponsored by AB Volvo, Volvo Car Corporation, Volvo Cars of North America, Inc. or Ford Motor Company. Brickboard.com is a Volvo owner/enthusiast site, similar to a club, and does not intend to pose as an official Volvo site. The official Volvo site can be found here.