Volvo Repair: Possible OD Relay Switch Problem/240 Wagon, phillips screws, engine harness

Question
Hi Roger.
I have a 93 240 Wagon with automatic transmission and about 140,000 miles on it.  We just paid $600 to have the engine harness wiring "fixed" (re-soldered?), plus new battery (the oil light came on and wouldn't go off...so it killed our battery)....anyway...it seemed to run fine for a day.  Driving home on the highway yesterday, the 4th gear disengage light came on, we lost fourth gear, and now it won't go off and it won't shift into fourth.  Previously (about a month ago) we started having a bit of difficulty putting the car in park (it goes into park...but sometimes you have to do it once or twice).  Also, the rear window defroster light comes on sometimes as well.

Are these two problems related (not going into Park...and the OD Disengage and Rear Defroster light coming on...I know those two are on the same fuse)?  Could this just be the OD relay switch?  Or just the fuse?  Or both?  Could the work on the engine harness have caused the switch to go out?  How difficult it is to replace the switch....and can I do it myself?  HOW do I do it?  I just paid the garage 600 bucks....and now they want $150 just to replace the switch.  I think I'm just about ready to get my hands dirty. :)

THANK YOU!
kim


Answer
Kim, find a different shop.  For 600 bucks you could have gotten a brand new harness installed.  These bozos are ripping you off.  The O/D relay is behind the glove box and you can do it yourself.  Its a white relay to the left.  The Glove box comes out with phillips screws.  The not going into park is a different issue.  150 bucks to do an O/D relay is just robbery.  Roger