Overdrive (auto trans.) stopped engaging recently. I have 12v at the white wire from the relay behind the dash. Underneath, I tried to separate the wires at the connector, and the wire end from the relay disintegrated at the bullet connector. Perhaps the problem.

I ran a 12v wire to the solenoid lead at the same connector and heard a faint click. Is this right? I was expecting more of a solid clunk from the solenoid, and I couldn't feel anything with one hand on the solenoid as I touched the wire to the connector. There's precious little room or slack for the wire coming from the relay(?) above. Is there a trick to getting some slack here to patch the wire? Somewhere I can access it above without too much pain and suffering? It looks like it comes down from the shifter tunnel.

Overdrive has always worked perfectly while in our care. It's hard to imagine how after seeing the condition of the wiring!

Best,
joe b.
portland, or

The wire can be replaced - Ive done it before and will try to give instructions from memory.

I used wire with oil resistant insulation. Start by taking the passenger side center console kick panel off then peel back the carpeting from under the center console, the wire comes from the OD relay above and runs under the carpet into the shifter box. Take the cover off the shifter box too - if I remember correct the shifter cover on a 93 is split so that it can be removed completely without taking the shifter knob off - but if not just move the cover up and out of the way.

The wire goes down into the shifter box and then out through a rubber plug in the front of the shifter box. I'd cut the old wire at the base of the center console and solder the new wire to the old wire - then carefully guide and pull the new wire through without removing the rubber plug - if you take the rubber plug out it is almost impossible to get access to get it back in with the transmission and the shifter in place - and if you dont replace the plug you'll get oil and other road grime in the shifter box. After it exits the shifter box, I seem to remember the wire taking a looped route to a connector and then to the OD solenoid. Once the new wire is pulled through and connected under the car, you can trim the top end to the correct length and solder it to the wire coming from the OD relay.

Replacing the wire solved the problem on my car. But I do have a new OD solenoid (still in the box) that I never used. If your solenoid turns out to be bad too let me know and I'll make you a good deal on it!

Jim

I think if you hear it clicking you are good to go. You may be able to get some slack in the wire, take off the shifter console and look for the white wire coming down from the relay to the left of the glove box. You should be able to find a couple of inches to work with. It does go through the shifter box and it would be a good idea to sheath the wire with something to keep it from shorting out.
Dan

Thanks for the helpful replies! An embarrassingly simple follow up: how does the shifter console cover come off? Should it just pop off? I don't want to break any plastic.

In the meantime, I managed to crimp in a temporary splice from below. It did fix the problem. Thanks also to Art B's pictorial of the wiring down there and heads up on the bullet connector. It looked great on the outside, and I probably would have suspected the rusty solenoid instead and wasted some money.

Each time I have a problem with one of these unusual Volvo designs, I have to remind myself that it did work for nearly 20 years and 300k miles! I suppose the real wonder is how many things still work.

Best,
joe b.
portland, or

Two screws at the top end (nearest the center console) if I remember correctly.