My 92 240 with automatic transmission is not shifting into overdrive. The car has 140,000 miles. The trans shifts normally but will not go into overdrive. I tried recycling the overdrive switch (on the transmission selector), I can see the "yellow arrow" on the dashboard coming off and on and hear the relay click, but the trans will not shift.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

You can bypass the whole mess and lose the ability to drop down from overdrive to third on demand. IPD sells a plug for this purpose. Its a manufactured version of something some guy invented for his chronic OD problem. There is some good banter about it in the archives.

My OD failed to engage, but I discovered disconnected and corroded wires under the car. I wire nutted some new wire in and its been fine for three years.

I believe if the light on the dash works, then the relay is probably working.
That leaves the solenoid and the wiring to it. You'll have to get under the car and check for voltage to the solenoid.
I have had this same problem for awhile, and have checked that the solenoid is working (you can feel and hear it click). So I wonder if the tranny is OK.....
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744 & 745 GLE's (IPD a-sbars)16v M46, 245 SE(IPD a-sbars) auto, 242Ti M46(IPD springs and bars), 745GL 8v auto

I have had three relays fail and two trans harnesses come apart, in all five cases, the upshift light still worked even though the OD would not engage. Three relays and two wiring issues... your call. Many times, resoldering the board in the relay resolves the problem.

jorrell
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92 245 245K miles, IPD'd to the hilt, 06 XC70, 00 Eclipse custom Turbo setup...currently in pieces

Often times it's the overdrive relay. You can either buy a new one or re-solder the old one. Re-soldering relays is super easy if you have a little solder pen: you just re-flow each solder contact. Just don't bridge any two contacts that aren's supposed to be! The relay sits to the left of the glovebox (at least it does on my '86...someone will correct me if I'm wrong for the '92). I've done this many times.

If that isn't the culprit, it could also be the wiring to the solenoid on the overdrive. That involves a voltmeter or test light, or at least getting under the car to see if everything is connected and not corroded.

After those things, you're left with the overdrive itself. Sometimes the solenoids do go bad ($$$). If it's internal to the overdrive, that's a bad thing. But I really doubt it is. I'd try the relay first and the wiring second. Hope this helps.

Nate Gundy

if your 92 is like our 93 945, the relay is behind the assh tray. check the FAQ section, I believe there are pics, even.

Relay is my bet. On your 200, you have to unscrew the glovebox, and then it should be a white little plastic cube, most likely up inside on the left, held on by a sticky gunk. The nice thing is the glovebox light will provide good lighting for this job - and take a look around, play with the vents, and turn on the windshield wipers for a little amusement ;)