Overdrive

adavidd · Post by **adavidd** » 10 Jan 2011, 21:15

I'm on my 2,400 mile shakedown cruise on my '86 240 DL. Just before leaving IA for TX I noticed that the little arrow on the dash stayed lit no matter what and the car would not shift into the overdrive. Pressing the little button on the gear shift (automatic tranny) had no effect. I had a rush job replacement shifter switch put in (genuine Volvo part) by AAMCO and it worked fine all the way to Happy, TX. Then it got to where it wouldn't shift again. I didn't want to drive all the way to S TX with those high revs and tried everything I could think of. Finally I poked around on everything behind the glove box where the AAMCO people said the switch was and the car started shifting properly. I have not dared press the little button on the gear shift. I still have to drive back to Iowa, however. Any ideas or suggestions??

Worriedly,
David

Post by **jimmy57** » 10 Jan 2011, 22:40

The relay for power to the overdrive solenoid on transmission is left of the glove box "box". The clip holding it to the dash metal frame exerts pressure on relay and can make the relay stick. In many cases removing relay from clip restores function. BUT, a 24 year old overdrive relay may need to be replaced to get proper function.

adavidd · Post by **adavidd** » 25 Jan 2011, 15:53

Hi,
I'm just back from that 2,400 mile trip and the old car is great! It was warm in Texas and only once did the car refuse to go into overdrive. (Jimmy56, you were right, I did have the relay replaced just before leaving town). Now that I am back in the land of snow it refuses to shift until the car has been driven about 10 miles, then, voila, it works perfectly.

Of course, I want it to work like that all the time. Are there tricks out there I just don't know about?

My AC compressor froze up. I found one of those Mexican mechanic wizzards who bypassed the pump entirely with a belt off the harmonic balancer to the power steering. I'll be looking for a new compressor? Anything I need to know about that?

SkyVolvo · Post by **SkyVolvo** » 27 Jan 2011, 13:24

Regarding the overdrive, you can purchase an overdrive solenoid bypass from IPD. It costs about $40, and it's nothing more than a small metal cap that bolts on in place of the overdrive solenoid, but it works like a charm. If you use the bypass, you'll lose the ability to voluntarily change your car down to third gear, but otherwise, it will work like a four-gear system, shifting as needed. My guess is that, like most people, you almost never actually use the overdrive button.

Installation is incredibly simple - you just have to find the right angle or the right tools to get at the overdrive solenoid. It's positioned on top of the transmission, and nothing convenient fits where you want it to. After much fiddling, I found I could reach my arms in through a few odd angles to get the bolts off, remove the solenoid, and replace it with the bypass.

I now have fourth gear back at all times, and am very happy with it.

adavidd · Post by **adavidd** » 29 Jan 2011, 20:53

When you went to the bypass was it because the relay wasn't working or were there other issues? Ya just gotta love lying down under a car and bear hugging the tranny!

Thanks for the insight.

SkyVolvo · Post by **SkyVolvo** » 03 Feb 2011, 13:14

My Volvo mechanic had checked out the relay to make sure it was working, then told me it was most likely the solenoid itself, which was not really worth replacing. That was when I opted for the bypass and installed it myself at a very low cost. When I got the solenoid off, I found my mechanic was quite correct - it was in rotten shape and was beginning to separate into two pieces.

Using the bypass kit gets around any potential problems with the relay OR the solenoid. It bypasses the system altogether, giving you a permanent four-gear box. Even if I had been uncertain about the state of my solenoid, I would have found the bypass worth it simply because it eliminated the process of hunting down potential problems, going through wiring and relays, and all of that stuff. Unless there are more significant/serious problems with your transmission, the bypass works like a guaranteed, permanent fix.

adavidd · Post by **adavidd** » 06 Feb 2011, 14:32

I think I would do exactly as you did except for one thing: I want to (daresay NEED to) pull my sailboat behind the brick and all I've read says to lock out the OD while pulling. I don't suppose the car would sense the extra strain and simply not shift up anyway would it? The boat weighs about 400 lbs plus the trailer. It does have wind drag, however.

SkyVolvo · Post by **SkyVolvo** » 08 Feb 2011, 21:23

Hmm. Well, I believe the relay and the solenoid (and wiring to the solenoid) are the points of failure, so if you've replaced the relay, you might just replace the solenoid with one from FCP. Turns out they can still be had fairly cheap ($59, http://fcpeuro.com/products/volvo-auto- ... -1239928-1). Same process as the bypass, except obviously you plug this one in.

Mind you, if it's a problem with the wiring further up the line, this won't fix it, but if the solenoid or the wire connected to the solenoid itself is the issue, this would do it. I'm sure it wouldn't be too hard to test the wire to the solenoid, if you wanted to check first.