Just picked up a 88 244 DL (automatic) for my wife. After replacing inner and outer tie rods, and patching up some holes in the floor boards I've noticed a fresh problem.

The OD indicator on the dash (arrow) was always on. I got it to shut off one time but messing with the button on the shifter. Read a bunch of posts on what the problem might be and I started troubleshooting by pulling the relay (behind the dash). The relay smells burnt, and has some black scorching on the circuit board.

I also looked at the wire running to the solenoid, which looks good. Dirty but all there and connected, no chafing either.

Once I pulled the relay the light didn't come back on. I've read that this still means the car is in OD off mode. So doing some other investigation I read about jumping wires 87 to 15 on the relay. Made a jumper, plugged her in and everything seems normal. Arrow is still off and the engine appears to be running at a lower RPM at highway speed.

So my question is...is there any way to tell, one way or another, if my OD is engaged? I can't seem to tell my counting the gears, and there is no tachometer to go by. Is this a fool proof method?

Any ideas? Also have other brickboarders used the jumpers with success and just left them in permanently? I don't see myself using the OD off mode at least for the meantime. And I would rather just keep the relay out of the equation.

Thanks in advance,

Will