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Overdrive Solenoid failure mode question 200 1986

posted by wolf_walker on Mon Apr 11 08:10 CST 2011
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last visit: Sat Aug 11 19:29 CST 2012

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OD relay new, switch good, switch clicks relay and lights up arrow perfectly.

OD will work briefly when first reaching enough speed in the morning on my trip to work (20 miles), but will kick out soon after, light not on. Can click light on and off, no effect. After some time at RPM in 3rd, it will wake up and fall into OD and be fine for the rest of the day (or longer). Some combo of road and temp makes it only fail on my way to work in the morning (or, someone has cursed me), I put 200 miles on the car this weekend alone and it was fine.

Fluid has few miles on it, very few, was flushed when the trans was out for seals awhile back. I'm down to swapping in another OD solenoid, any other ideas? There isn't much to this system really.

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Overdrive Solenoid failure mode question 200 1986

posted by Art Benstein on Mon Apr 11 09:14 CST 2011
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last visit: Fri Oct 17 20:10 CST 2014

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Let me get this straight, now.

(1) The OD light goes out by itself while driving in OD?

(2) It "falls into" OD from 3rd gear? By itself?

(3) Tranny was "out for seals" -- including OD piston seals?
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

Some cause happiness wherever they go. Others whenever they go.

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Overdrive Solenoid failure mode question 200 1986

posted by wolf_walker on Mon Apr 11 09:45 CST 2011
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last visit: Sat Aug 11 19:29 CST 2012

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The light works fine, and when the OD drops out the light does not come on. You can push the OD button and it comes on and off as it should, but not on it's own.
Nothing odd there in short.

Eventually if you leave it alone and drive along, maybe five minutes, it wakes up and goes into 4th and seems to work normally the rest of the day.

I had the trans out when the motor was out awhile back since it leaked out of every seal on the thing, it's been fine for the previous thousand miles I've put on it though. There isn't much to those OD seals and I did not use generic o-rings, so I don't think I screwed that up. Do these solenoids get sticky as a mode of failure with age? I'm sure this one is original at 240+K. I can pull one from my 88 and stick it in there but I figured I'd ask before I got dirty.

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Overdrive Solenoid failure mode question 200 1986

posted by john sargent on Mon Apr 11 10:29 CST 2011
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last visit: Wed Oct 22 09:07 CST 2014

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If the OD light won't come on, there is an electrical problem. It is either the relay, wiring, or fourth gear switch. It could be the fourth gear switch, but usually the fourth gear switch fails to work when cold.

"You can push the OD button and it comes on and off as it should, but not on it's own." Could you elaborate on this sentence? I'm not understanding it.
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john

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Wiring 200 1986

posted by jwalker on Mon Apr 11 12:52 CST 2011
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last visit: Fri Jun 6 08:39 CST 2014

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As John mentioned, check your wiring if you haven't already. My 90's wiring went due to years of rubbing on the edge of the shifter tunnel.

The wiring can also disintegrate at or near the solonoid connection.

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Automatic Overdrive Solenoid failure mode question 200 1986

posted by Art Benstein on Mon Apr 11 10:10 CST 2011
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OK, I need to go back and read your original post to figure out why I thought you were working on an M46. Sorry.

Yes, the automatic OD solenoid can become balky with heat - internally. Not fluidic in my case, but electrical. Read about how I proved it: Notes on Automatic OD Solenoid Failure Analysis - (not repair instruction)
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Art Benstein near Baltimore

Did you know that dolphins are so smart that within a few weeks of captivity, they can train people to stand on the very edge of the pool and throw them fish?

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Automatic Overdrive Solenoid failure mode question 200 1986

posted by wolf_walker on Mon Apr 11 10:37 CST 2011
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"OK, I need to go back and read your original post to figure out why I thought you were working on an M46. Sorry."

Wishful thinking? M47 swap on my 88 in the not too distant future. :)

Nah, is an auto. I was trying to get across that the light/switch seems to work fine, even when it will not go into OD.

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Automatic Overdrive Solenoid failure mode question 200 1986

posted by john sargent on Mon Apr 11 11:06 CST 2011
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last visit: Wed Oct 22 09:07 CST 2014

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Try another solenoid. Or, cut a slot (it is in the FAQ) in the face of your solenoid and it should go into OD fine.
--
john

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Automatic Overdrive Solenoid failure mode question 200 1986

posted by Art Benstein on Mon Apr 11 12:04 CST 2011
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It is probably more efficient to first prove the relay is working to send the juice to the solenoid, because that's clean work sitting in the chair. The relays are known for developing a hairline crack in the solenoid circuit (term 87) that does not affect the OD arrow light (term 87a).

But then again, you probably saw that old Roger D. Scott rant dredged up the other week -- the one about microsurgery and electrical porn?
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

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Automatic Overdrive Solenoid failure mode question 200 1986

posted by john sargent on Mon Apr 11 12:09 CST 2011
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last visit: Wed Oct 22 09:07 CST 2014

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Thanks, I didn't know that. I've sure repaired lots of relays, anywhere from Fuel Injection to Turn Signal Flasher, and everything in between.

I just take the relay cover off and solder every cracked joint I find. The cracks are always where the small pieces of copper buss protrude through the printed circuit board.
--
john

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Automatic Overdrive Solenoid failure mode question 200 1986

posted by Art Benstein on Mon Apr 11 12:25 CST 2011
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Roger advocates getting out the Dremel at the first sign of trouble and dispensing with what he believes is Volvo's (toyota's) ill-thought-out electrical nightmare. Very good logic in what he says. My view of the point is it all really boils down to whether a maintainer is more comfortable wielding a wrench than a test light, and whether the Volvo owner cares about mountain driving or towing.

The cracked solder OD relay was one of the first Volvo troubles I had just after finding this board and Don Foster's "$0 fix" for it.
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

A little boy asked his father, “Daddy, how much does it cost to get married?” Father replied, “I don’t know son, I’m still paying.”

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Automatic Overdrive Solenoid failure mode question 200 1986

posted by john sargent on Wed Apr 13 13:43 CST 2011
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last visit: Wed Oct 22 09:07 CST 2014

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I prefer to repair the OD relay, wiring, and replace the solenoid as necessary to keep the system working. I get a lot of satisfaction out of being able to diagnose the problem and making the correct repair versus bypassing the system.

I understand the Scantech OD solenoids are short lived, so when I've need one I've gone to the self service wrecking yard and got a Volvo solenoid. I even have one of IPD's OD solenoid bypass parts on the parts shelf from one venture looking for a solenoid. I chose to replace the solenoid, and leave the IPD part on the shelf for an quick fix until I could get a solenoid.

--
john

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Automatic Overdrive Solenoid failure mode question 200 1986

posted by wolf_walker on Mon Apr 11 14:23 CST 2011
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I can gar-un-tee ya'll it ain't just volvo. Nobody in Europe had any solder worth a crap back then. Been there done that.

Are the Kaehler solenoid's any good? They aren't scantech at least.

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Automatic Overdrive Solenoid failure mode question 200 1986

posted by wolf_walker on Wed Apr 13 13:13 CST 2011
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last visit: Sat Aug 11 19:29 CST 2012

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Well the OD solenoid from my 88 has apparently fixed this issue. Time will tell but my spider-sense says it's all better. It's a lot easier to pull that thing out with a totally worn out trans mount (my 88) than a nice new one (the 86). :)

Now on to the next problem..

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