update:

I just found your original thread, to which I had actually replied.

What do you mean no help? You had 6 posts in there, all of which offered a variety of information. And why do you want an automatic transmission expert for this post? It has NOTHING to do with the auto itself.

The OD unit is, at least on the m46, a complimentary system that simply augments the main tranny. from what I've read its the same on the auto, so your problem is with the OD assembly and not the tranny.

From one of the last posts I read it sounded like you had clearly diagnosed the problem... the button is bad. Did you replace the button with a known working one? Did you make sure the relay you put in was teh correct one by asking someone to describe, EXACTLY, the relay for the OD? If you aren't hearing ANYTHING when you push the button its almost definitely an electrical issue. Replace the relay with the proper one, replace the button with a working one, trace the wiring and check the solenoid.

I had a problem with my headlights when I used a relay that looked IDENTICAL but wasn't 2x like the original. I though the switch was bad, that the wiring was faulty, etc., and it turned out I'd just used a relay incapable of carrying the proper current and logic.

Good luck,
Rick