1988 Volvo 245DL Overdrive

[93Regina]

Word for the Day: Kickdown Cable

See: 1994 940 Non-Turbo Not Shifting into Overdrive

[93Regina]

Kickdown cable was replaced and adjust 2 years ago and working fine

Assumption - OD-solenoid, and electrical, are both working correctly, with a solid 12-volt feeding it.

1. AW70s pump is failing - pressure checks to confirm

2. Kickdown cable within AW70 transmission has somehow hung up - I had this happen where AW70's lever was stuck in a "passing" mode position. So, I re-positioned it, and installed a new cable.

It was not explained how this happened, btw.

"My overdrive wasn't shifting into 4th gear half of the time."

So, did it take higher and higher RPMs to shift into OD? If so, open that plate (or whatever it was I took off), and inspect position of that lever.

[93Regina]

solenoid

If you have the old OD, there is a way to modify it so OD will always be engaged.

Eliminating the Solenoid and the Manual Downshift System:

>- OD box got clogged => flushing fluid?

On my AW71L, I installed a rebuilt lockup-TC and a new pump on it. So, with fresh transmission fluid, it drove fine for several hundred miles. Then, it took higher and higher RPMs to upshift, until I was stuck in first gear. The lever, which OD cable hooks to in transmission, was in its "full throttle" mode.

Function of Kickdown Cable - If throttle pressure wins the contest the trans remains in lower gear, if governor pressure wins the trans upshifts. Governor pressure is directly related to driveshaft, and thus road speed. If you tighten cable you increase throttle pressure and the whole shift point/road speed map goes higher. If you loosen cable the shift point map moves lower. The trans throttle cable (kickdown cable) also depresses a valve if you (or the throttle spool) pull the cable all the way out past that hard spot which is a detent to make you aware of the actual kickdown feature. The kickdown valve increases the throttle pressure drastically above the linear rate that you get from the rest of the throttle pedal travel range and makes the gearbox goes to lowest possible gear allowed at the road speed you are at when you activate it.

[93Regina]

I know about OD bypass mod with drilling a line between holes

Good, then drive vehicle as is.......do that mod....verify lever's position....do a line pressure test...DIY overhaul at several hundred bucks...or Pay the Man several grand.