coasting=immediate speed decrease

Garry L · Post by **Garry L** » 27 Oct 2005, 09:29

Is it normal for Volvos to not coast like other automatics do? I notice when I drive mine at any speed, then let off the gas, even on big hills, the car immediately starts slowing down, without me braking. In other cars I've driven, especially going down a hill, the car remains at the same speed or even picks up speed on it's way down. Is this speed decrease characteristic of the 740 ('91) or is it because my overdrive is deactivated (not functioning)? Thanks.

sp00nix · Post by **sp00nix** » 12 Nov 2005, 00:52

I do belive it s a volvo thing, i have one, and my 2 of my buddies have 240s and 240s and it does slow down when i let off the gas. just tongiht iw as driving some one elses car and it felt really wierd that the car kept going after letting off the gas

petershen1984 · Post by **petershen1984** » 21 Nov 2005, 03:51

Dude, that sounds like a deactivated overdrive to me, because I turn it off to facilitate "engine braking" down the hills, rather than ride on the brake pads. Going downhill, the engine speed should not be more than 1,500 if it is infact in overdrive - any higher than that, then your engine is holding the car from coasting in third gear. (When coasting downhill on a freeway at 62 mph/100 km/h, the tach is just over 2,000 rpm )

(If the overdrive is off (or broken) while ascending a hill, then passengers would feel a forward jolt similar to a manual transmission. A properly function transmission should coast downhill!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 30 Nov 2005, 20:30

Thanks man, I got my overdrive fixed (turned out the solenoid was bad) and it seems to coast better downhill. I appreciate the reply!

petershen1984 · Post by **petershen1984** » 02 Dec 2005, 00:55

No problem

In my opinion it's one of those things that goes bad through lack of use (statistically 9 in 10 people don't know how to use it - only feels it when it's disabled), just like the handbrake (cable) for automatic transmissions...