Previously I reported a problem with our 1983 244 GL normally aspirated, autmatic transmission first downshifting from OD to 3rd at inappropriate times, and eventually ALWAYS wanting to be in 3rd at highway speeds. Brilliant diagnosticians on this board correctly identified a problem with the kickdown cable, the sleeve for which was damaged or loose. A friendly garage put it together with a zip tie as a temporary fix, and warned my son to fix it correctly pretty soon.

Pretty soon has come an gone, with no appropriate repair. So I had another friendly mechanic look at it today, and the cable is grossly out of adjustment and needs to be replaced; both the end at the engine and at the tranny are in disrepair. As a temporary fix, he simple disabled it at the engine end, and tried to be sure it released fully. BUT--the car still won't shift into OD. Here is an added fact: the O/D Off switch on the shift lever sticks from time to time; but the light on the dash does go off, indicating the sensor there believes that OD should engage; it just doesn't.

We suspect something electrical; any insights here?

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83 240 GL