Well, I bought a 1993 244 this week. I took it for its first drive today, and everything went well. It was getting dark when I pulled back into the driveway, and as I pushed the extremely loose shifter on the automatic transmission up into park, I see sparks jump out (the PRND21 cover is missing) of the linkage hole. I also notice immediately that the overdrive arrow has illuminated. I check fuse #11, and sure enough it has popped.

Replace that, and the light goes out. Well, I guess this shifter handle that flops around all over the place has worn some wires down in the hole and now shorts them out sometimes.
The shifter is so loose that I have to push it to the right and connect the nipple on the shifter to the notch on the selector switch anytime i'm changing a gear position, otherwise the shifter will leave the selector behind.

Is this a replacement anyone has done before?

I don't know what exactly has failed, but it certainly will need to be fixed up before I put two first-time drivers behind the wheel of the car.

I guess i'll try to get a diagram from the Volvo dealer to figure out what parts are involved, as the Bentley manual doesn't seem to go that deep.

-Phil

EDIT: I SHOULD HAVE SEARCHED MORE BEFORE POSTING. THIS GUY HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE I THINK: Loose shifter