240 automatic overdrive dead

[Volgrrr]

The overdrive on my good old 1988 240 wagon has suddenly died.

At first I thought it may have been low transmission fluid as you could hear the overdrive relay click and see the overdrive off 'arrow' light up on the instrument panel when the overdrive switch on the gear shifter was operated.

So I topped up the box - it didn't need much - with absolutely no effect.

Putting the car up on ramps I climbed underneath and noticed the overdrive cable appeared to be sagging quite substantially. I gave it a tug and it came apart in the little white connector that joins the solenoid relay and the wire coming from the overdrive switch.

Try as I might, I found it absolutely impossible working on my back to do anything about repairing the short wire from the overdrive switch as there was simply not enough room.

The obvious solution would be to take the car into a garage and have it put up on a hoist to effect repairs, but that might end up being a fairly costly solution.

It may be possible to do the repairs from inside the cabin working downwards - I don't know.

I would appreciate if any 240 owners who have done this sort of repair previously would be kind enough to give me some advice on this matter.

[billofdurham]

I haven't done this repair, nor have I heard of it being done. However, here is a possible solution.

If you are able to temporarily attach/fasten new wires to the ends of those coming down from the overdrive switch you could remove the switch from the gear lever and pull the old wires, complete with new wires up through the gear lever. This would enable you to allow enough wire underneath to reconnect them to the relay.

Bill.

[Volgrrr]

Good thinking Bill,

I hadn't even given a thought to renewing the wire - I was in a classical state of tunnel vision where I could only focus on how awkward or nearly impossible it was going to do from underneath.

Will have a go at replacing the whole the wire.

Thanks for the tip.

Regards
Volgrrr

[billofdurham]

Or you could just extend the wires under the car using soldered joints insulated with heatshrink sleeving.

Bill.