Volvo Repair: Overdrive Transmission, overdrive switch, tight area

Question
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Followup To
Question -
My daughter has a 1984 244 with a manual 4 speed transmission. The overdrive isn't working. It was this way when she got the car. How can I test the electrical/ mechanical circuits to find the problem?

Thanks,
Dave

Answer -
Hi Dave,
     Volvo has had problems with wiring that goes thru shifter to the O D....carefully examine wiring from top of gearshift to underneath car..
        Also,the overdrive relay may have failed.
       To acess this relay....remove screws that hold in glove box..remove glove box...look to left behind dash boad just to the left of glove box opening...you'll find O D relay...it's white.
         Good luck,
         Bilbo

   also...check fuses..

Follow-up question.
I can hear the relay when I activate the gear shift overdrive button. I have power at the fuse. I checked the solenoid for current by putting the shifter in 4th gear, turning on the ignition switch and activating the button on the shifter. There wasn't any. The overdrive light on the dash doesn't come on either. Is it possible that the system doesn't recognize that the transmission is in 4th gear? Is there a way to test the overdrive switch on the transmission?

Thanks,
Dave


Answer
Hi Dave,
      There is a switch on the tranny that tells the OD relay that it is in 4th...its in a tight area on top of the tranny on the forward area...another switch fitted to the tranny is for the back-up light....you could direct wire these wires and bypass the switch...but you will have O D in all gears...BE VERY CAREFULL...DO NOT USE USE REVERSE IF TRANNY IS IN O D..
         To make more space available to get to tranny switch...support under tranny cross member with floor jack and remove the 4 bolts and slowly lower tranny...watch for clearence of fan to radiator or other systems that may be affected by motor movement..
         Good luck Dave,
         Bilbo