Due to my recent compression issues on my 850T, I am forced to purchase a new daily driver. I found a cherry 1991 240 with higher miles. Everything about the car sounds great except it will not downshift on its own when coming to a stop, it has to be done manually with the gear selector. Also, it will not start when it is in park, only when it is in neutral.

I live in a city where there are many stoplights, so the transmission issue concerns me. The owner is positive that it is a bad/sticky kickdown cable (as diagnosed by a certified volvo shop here in the twin cities). Not starting in park leads me to believe it is the neutral switch, which is about $20.

Should I be concerned or can I just replace the kickdown cable? I work in a shop and have access to tools, lift, etc.

 

my kickdown cable (1992 740 turbo wagon) failed recently, it wouldn't retract, so the transmission thought the gas was floored all the time, and wouldn't UP shift.

replacing the kickdown cable requires dropping the transmission pan as the end is inside.

indeed, your not-start-in-park problem si likely the park/neutral switch, or the bushings down in the shifter assembly

 

I am not sure about that shop diagnosis re the cable. Failure to upshift is what a worn cable will do... failure to downshift? Not a common problem...

 

if the cable is actually broken, such that the tranny thinks there's no gas at all, then there would be insufficient hydraulic pressure to downshift, it would stay in a high gear thinking you're not using any throttle. I was told by a tranny specialist that trying to drive with it like this would be really hard on the transmission innards.

in MY case described above, the cable stuck ON, thinking I was always hard on the gas, so it wouldn't UP shift., would stay in a low gear all the time.

either way, get it fixed ASAP.

 

After a few days of driving it around I've noticed that it upshifts just fine, just not into overdrive, and it downshifts just fine, maybe a little slower than it should but w/e. I ordered a new cable from FCP along with a new pan gasket and filter. Hopefully that will smooth things out. As of right now the cable is fully retracted and disconnected from the throttle wheel. It's fine to drive as long as I don't hit the highway.