A colleague suggested I join and ask for some guidance. I'm a long time volvo owner, a devotee of the 240 line and am currently on #3 & #4. #3 is a 93 240 DL classic 5 speed with 196k, while #4 is a 91 240 SE automatic trans with 45,500 miles as a "summer only" car [no typo; I'm owner #2 and have the signed mileage cert from the previous owner]. Anyway, I'm having a problem with #4...it frequently stays in 3rd gear and will not shift to hi gear. What is odd to me is erratic behavior pattern. 4-6 days ago it stayed in 3rd gear; I could press the button on the transmission handle and see the dash light arrow turn on and off to no avail. It rained a tad Friday night, and saturday the car ran normally in 4th gear; pressing the downshift button kicked the car down to third with the dash light illuminated, and releasing the button turned off the dash light and the trans moved into 4th. Now this morning the car stayed stuck in 3rd. Yes, I suspect an electrical problem. And it rained tonight, so we'll see how she runs in the morning.

Alas...no more 240's,

Kris

 

Either the relay is bad or the soleniod on the side of the transmisison is bad.
Usually when the relay goes bad the light will stay on in the speedo cluster.
So I would say to look at the soleniod first.