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How can we tell if our AW70 Transmission is actually achieving overdrive (4 th gear) 200 1987

posted by  Pambill on  Wed Oct 30 12:44 CST 2002
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Our 87 240 was diagnosed as having a bad overdrive solenoid. (We were told a vibration which starts at 55mph and continues through 65 mph and greater is the result of our tranny staying in 3rd gear. RPM's are 3000 at 55mph and 3500 at 65 mph. Can rpm's at a certain speed tell you whether you are achieving overdrive? If a tranny was actually unable to move pass 3rd gear would there be a upper limit of mph that would seem normal to the driver. (Without the engine and tranny sounding or feeling unusual. We are not sure that the diagnosis is correct. We agree that the overdrive is not 100% because when the overdrive button on the shifter is depressed the od arrow displays on the dash but no change in the transmission occurs at any speed. We have several volvos which react abruptly when the od button is used on them. It seems if anything that the tranny is always ready for overdrive rather than unable to achieve overdrive. The other possibility is that the overdrive is always disengaged but the tranny does go to 55 mph very nicely and smooth. We changed the od solenoid with a used od no change. Not sure if the change was necessary. Still have vibration at 55 and greater. Like the song says "I can"t drive 55"

Thanx








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    How can we tell if our AW70 Transmission is actually achieving overdrive (4 th gear) 200 1987

    uid 6393's pic
    posted by  ovloV@attbi.com on  Thu Oct 31 03:02 CST 2002
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    I drove for 2 months with my OD out. 112 Mile daily round trip at highway speeds (75 to 90 Mi/Hr). Yes the engine rev'ed up like a sewing machine but it handled it just fine. It actually drove better noticeqably better after this "abuse" idle smoothed out and had better accleration.. Y'ever hear of an "Italian tune-up"?-)








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    How can we tell if our AW70 Transmission is actually achieving overdrive (4 th gear) 200 1987

    posted by  dbostrom on  Wed Oct 30 13:06 CST 2002
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    last visit: Wed Feb 1 13:16 CST 2012
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    You should be at less than 3000 rpm at 65mph if the overdrive is working.








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      How can we tell if our AW70 Transmission is actually achieving overdrive (4 th gear) 200 1987

      posted by  Aye Roll on  Wed Oct 30 16:23 CST 2002
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      last visit: Tue Oct 14 21:08 CST 2014
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      My 86 (B230F, AW70, 195/60-15 tires) turns exactly 3000 rpm at 65.
      It easily does 65 in 3rd. It probably will go about 85-90 in 3rd. It sounds like this car is in fact going into overdrive. My other 240, an 87, does have a distinctly different behavior than the 86 when shifting from overdrive, it seems to make less of a difference in rpm. This is subjective however- the 87 has no tach *yet*. But in both cars, (as well as the 88 740) the shift is very noticeable and the OD turns off, when the up arrow turns on.
      Hope this helps.
      ===
      Rob Bareiss, New London, CT ::: 86 244DL, 87 244DL, 88 744GLE, 625K Total








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    How can we tell if our AW70 Transmission is actually achieving overdrive (4 th gear) 200 1987

    posted by  Don Foster on  Wed Oct 30 12:54 CST 2002
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    last visit: Sun Oct 5 11:53 CST 2014
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    If you accelerate at a light throttle, you should feel the tranny shift 1-2 and then 2-3 and then 3-4 (OD) at about 40-45 mph.

    Once in OD at highway speed, push the button on the side of the gearshift knob -- the orange light should illuminate and you should distinctly feel the tranny down shift to third and hear the engine rev up about 20%.

    If the tranny doesn't respond even though the orange light illuminates, first try resoldering the OD relay -- $0, 15 minutes, no risk, clean 'n easy work.

    Next would be to check the wiring to the solenoid, and also to verify that the solenoid's getting 12 volts when the orange light is out.

    One possible cause of no (or very reluctant) OD is a kickdown cable jammed all the way out.

    --
    Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)








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      How can we tell if our AW70 Transmission is actually achieving overdrive (4 th gear) 200 1987

      posted by  Pambill on  Wed Oct 30 13:12 CST 2002
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      Hello Don

      Is it possible to drive 65mph in 3rd gear. We have driven our 240 for over a year with this vibration. Thanx Bill








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        How can we tell if our AW70 Transmission is actually achieving overdrive (4 th gear) 200 1987

        posted by  Don Foster on  Wed Oct 30 13:37 CST 2002
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        last visit: Sun Oct 5 11:53 CST 2014
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        65 in third? In a heartbeat. In 2nd, too.

        Pre-'82 cars had no OD. I got many a speeding ticket, well over 65 mph, in my '81 245 with a 3-spd A/T.

        The vibration could be a bad U-joint....

        ...Or a bad center bearing support...

        ...Or, if the car has 200k miles, more or less, a worn tailshaft bushing at the rear of the tranny (had exactly this in my '86 245 at 165k miles)...

        Does the transmission drip any oil near the driveshaft?

        --
        Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)








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      How can we tell if our AW70 Transmission is actually achieving overdrive (4 th gear) 200 1987

      posted by  oty on  Wed Oct 30 13:02 CST 2002
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      PAm,

      Sevaral things to check. Most often this is the overdrive relay. I believe the run about $40, or in that area. The system has four basic components that you can readily check. The overdrive selctor, The relay, the solenoid, the wiring integrity. The Bentley manual covers the overdrive trouble shooting pretty well, though you may have to be part Limey to find the material at times.

      Also, try the Brickboard forum, FAQ for 700/900's. I think the 700 series used the AW70 / 71 A/T, so their may be helpful information in that area.

      Always report back with what you found, as trival as it may appear to you, it usually helps someone else.







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