6 replies to this topic

[ikorman]

I have a 91 740 NA automatic and I have some issues with the overdrive. Sometimes (75% of the time), after starting the car, the little orange arrow will stay lit in the dummy light section of my dashboard indicating the car is in the overdrive mode. (I am not sure it's called overdrive: it may be something else.) This is the same indicator lighting up when the button on the shifter knob is used. Sometimes it takes a few minutes and the arrow goes away. Other times it will stay on. It does NOT go away if I try turningit off using the button. Here is the annoying part: the transmission will actiually keep in that mode getting up to very high RPMs and not downshifting. I am wasting lots of gas and probably overheating and stressing the engine. Has anyone heard of this issue? What's the fix?

[v70XXXc]

i think this is pretty common. i had the same problem w/ my 87 740. a wire has become loose on the overdrive solonoid and needs to be soldered back on. i did not actually do the work, my mechanic did, but he said it was easy to find and fix.

by the way, my mother drove the car with this problem for about 2 years prior to me inheriting it.

[550]

I did this, it was super easy. One of the solder points is old and cracked. What you do is get a magnifying glass and look at all the major solder point(cover off) the ones with the most movement. YOu will see hairline cracks along the sollder base, reheat that solder to close it up a bit, and bam you should be all good.

I don't think it is a wire though, Im fairly sure it should be a point. Mine was on a 940. So it could be slightly different. Good luck

[Three245Turbos]

If it works then not, vice-versa, it could just be a sticking relay...POUND on the SOB! Just kidding...
Ron

[ikorman]

I am not very good with electronics and soldering so I just asked my mechanic to replace the relay. He gave me a loaner and so far so good. By the way, when I got the old relay apart, it did not seem to have any cracked soldering joints. I might have a friend take a look and re-solder everything. Otherwise, I will have to buy a new relay ($50).

Oh! Here is another question: what will happen if I just pull the relay out? WIll the car run fine? Will transmission run OK with the exception that nothing will happen if I press the overdrive switch?

Edited by ikorman, 24 July 2004 - 12:46 PM.

[dons850t5r]

I dont know about pulling the relay out, but in my 740 wagon i had to disc. the od switch on the shifter, seems like there was a intermittent short. never used it anyhow.
Don

[james.rollins]

if you pull the relay it will continue to run the way it did before, never shifting into OD and that sucks on the highway...not a good idea.

you can get one at:

VOLVOPARTSDIRECT.COM

for a good price.

James