the vehicle is a 1994 volvo 940. it belongs to my mother, and i dont know much about these cars, and the problem description i have is quite vague. basically what she tells me is that as soon as the vehicle start up, when warm, she claims it goes into "shiftlock override". she said the upward arrow shows up on the dash as soon as the vehicle starts, and the vehicle revvs higher than normal and she is unable to go above 40-50 because it will not shift. i had always thought that the upward arrow indicated the car was in overdrive, but then again i dont know these vehicles well so any help/ideas would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

I am sympathetic, since I often help my mother, and am often in over my head. Or both at once.

Would you try an experiment? Does your mother have the Volvo owner's manual? Has she read it? Or at least the portion of it regarding the overdrive light? (It's got a good index. Look under "dash" or lights" or whatever.)

I'd like to hear her opinion of the manual.

It has half the answer.

Namely, that the lit arrow means that the OD is DIS-engaged. (Not intuitive.)

Other half: why? Likely the relay for the OD, which wears. Resolder or replace, $0-50. (Could even try simply reseating it first.) See FAQs for details.

So what's her opinion, [easde?
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Gregg Shadduck, Mpls, MN -- 2x '87 745; '92 245; '67 Amazon