Hello all. Recently aquired 1987 auto 240DL overdrive was/is not working. I checked electric right to solenoid itself . It is fine. So fiquring solenoid itself must be bad I replaced it Today with a new one from FCP Groton. Overdrive still does not work !! What could problem be ?? Could it be problem in tranny itself ?? I noticed a nut on tranny right under solenoid. It is short. Maybe 1/2 inch long. Is this a clean out hole ? Is there a clean out hole or a way to clean out overdrive passages ? I'm thinking maybe they need to be cleaned out. I am stumped. Any help or ideas are greatly appreciated. Thanks.

i fixed mine by changin/checkin the fuse in the fuse box! blew it a couple of times at first , so i , too figured it was the solenoid, itself. not so. do u have a spot in your fusebox for the overdrive?? if so, try givin it a good cleaning, and a fresh fuse, AND, check all the connections on/goin to the tranny from the solenoid, another Ground gremlin, possibly? let me know, as always, i try to gather and keep all the info, just in case i run into something like this on my daughter's '85 244 DL, and will happily pass along all the good intel i've recieved from the member on this board. i belong to another club/ forum for my '78 924, but we're so spread out all over the globe, sometimes it takes days to retrieve info from the gurus that reside over those groups, thank God they are always on the mark!also, check the actual button switch on the gear selector knob in your car, as i found this had been replaced once, causin mine not to connect properly.. hope this helps! louis

I'm assuming you've checked:
1. Relay
2. Switch
3. Wiring

Joe HC is exactly right about the wire. This winter my white wire broke right on top of the tranny. I couldn't get it at with my jack and jackstands and ending up taking it to a mechanic to splice! Not funnnn....Maybe yours is corroded but not completely gone, so some juice is getting through. Could be grounding out on the case.

As I understand it, sometimes the relay will click but not actually work. You might want to check that.

Don't mean to be redundant, but have you tested all the electrical components with a multimeter?
--
90 244DL 252K - original engine/drivetrain :)

If you have already stated this, my apologizes. But
did you follow the wire from the solenoid all the way
up to your shift box? Even if it is sleeved, I woul pull
the sleeve off and inspect the wire. There is a funny
little area on the passenger side of the tranny where
the solenoid wire splices into a new wire. I have had to
replace that before. As you know, it is dirty and greasy
under there, but I would give a hard look at that wire
if you haven't yet.

---Joe HC
--
1977 244 160k (?), 1990 244 102k, 1978 Fiat 124 Spyder (restoring)