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Overdrive problems 200 1987

posted by  sweedforspeed on  Fri Apr 29 16:20 CST 2005
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last visit: Sun Sep 26 02:46 CST 2010
[RELATED]

I own a 1987 Volvo 240 DL wagon with an automatic transmission and I am having a problem with the overdrive. Occasionally the overdrive will not engage and the car will stay in 3rd gear at highway speeds. It acts like lockout the button on the shifter has been pushed, but there is no light on the dash indicating the lockout is engaged. If I hit the lockout button the light does come on and I hear a click from the relay, but it makes no difference in the overdrive status when I disengage the button. The overdrive does engage some of the time, and when it engages the lockout switch on the shifter will work and cause it to disengage. I have been told that most problems with overdrives are due to either the relay or the solenoid. Does the fact that the lockout switch appears to work (light goes on and off) when the problem occurs point towards the solenoid? Is there a way to determine for sure if it is the solenoid or switch that is to blame?







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    Overdrive problems 200 1987

    posted by  lucid on  Sat Apr 30 01:52 CST 2005
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    last visit: Fri Oct 24 12:31 CST 2014
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    It sounds like the switch, relay, and Arrow light are OK.

    OD operation involves 5 components and the wiring that connects them...

    1) Fuse 11 (fused voltage supplied to items #2, #3, #4, and #5)

    2) The Shifter button/switch (turns OD relay off and on)

    3) The OD relay (controls Upshift Arrow light and Solenoid) (separate wires)

    4) The Upshift Arrow light (ON means relay and solenoid OFF)

    5) The OD solenoid (Allows OD engagement when ON, the "default" Relay state at Key On)

    If the Shifter switch makes the Arrow light (#4) go on and off, then items 1, 2, and 3 are OK, and the problem is most likely the undercar wire to the Solenoid (#5) or the wire connector terminal.

    Less likely would be be Solenoid itself.
    Also possible (but very unlikely) would be the relay controlling the Arrow light (#4) correctly, but failing to activate the Solenoid.
    An internal transmission problem is also possible.

    ===>...consider this recent reply to a "check the wiring" suggestion:

    "Replaced corroded connector and length of wire with bad insulation. Working perfectly now."

    He was having "intermitent" OD failures, was sure it "couldn't be wiring" (that would be "all or nothing"), and was probably on the way to a solid failure.
    --
    Bruce Young
    '93 940-NA (current) — 240s (one V8) — 140s — 122s — since '63.








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      Overdrive problems 200 1987

      posted by  Racer12 on  Sat Apr 30 13:36 CST 2005
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      had a similer problem on my 91 245. Posted here and got great help. someone suggested checking the wire from the shifter to the solinoid and there was the problem. Badly frayed wire at the solonoid wire connection. replaced the connector and all seems well. this cost about $2.00 and 1/2 hour.






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