Apparently the wifemobile is having some funky overdrive issues. The overdrive won't catch until the car is warmed up a little. It seems to be pretty steady after that, but for the first five minutes or so the overdrive either isn't working or is intermittent (I'm having to translate femalespeak, but that's as close as I've been able to understand the problem). Is this a common symptom of the overdrive relay, or is it symptomatic of something else?

Thanks.

my od won't engage until I hit 55-60mph. it's an '89 too. gonna flush this week.

My parents car (a Nissan) is designed to do this. It's not good to use the overdrive when the engine is cold. Don't think the 240 was designed this way (or maybe they where) but it won't harm anything, possibly the opposite.

Cheers

My 740 had this problem-turned out to be the od solenoid being stopped up. Tried removing and blowing out with air and solvent. This helped, but didn't completely solve it. Finally replaced the solenoid-all is well.

My 89 245 did pretty much the same thing, when it aquired 278k miles on it. When the car was cold (first thing in the morning) I'd drive about 5 miles to the Interstate and it never would go into overdrive. I'd get on the interstate and drive about 3 or 4 miles and it would suddenly drop into overdrive. I did a flush and changed the filter (I hadn't done it in almost 100k), it didn't help. I changed the OD relay, it didn't help. I checked the wiring to the OD solenoid, everything was good there. Only thing left was to repalce the OD solenoid. I pulled it and just for kicks I cut the black rubber stuff off the top where the wire enters it. I found that the tiny little coil wire had broken. From what I could tell as it warmed up it would expand and make contact and the solenoid would start to function correctly. I never used the OD function and didn't have the money to buy a new one so I just "modified" it so it would stay in the OD position full time. Problem solved.

I'm sure there are other things that can cause this but the OD solenoid mod fixed mine.

Good luck,
Tony
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Tony Turner 89 Volvo 240DL 200K, 92 Jeep Cherokee 250K, 93 Jeep Grand Cherokee 213K, 89 Volvo 240Wagon 303K

The last time that happened to me, my tranny asked for new ATF. After a flush the problem was gone.

Klaus
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98 V70Rawd(101Kmi), 95 854T(85K mi), 75 164E(173K mi)