Overdrive on my 85 wagon stopped working. I removed solenoid at transmission and cut small channel between 2 holes in solenoid. Re-installed and still not shifting into OD. Could this be something more then a bad solenoid?

 

Did you change the relay? By far the most common OD problem.

 

X2 on the relay. About a year ago I had the same problem and it was the relay.

 

I had the same problem on my 740. I had a new solenoid put in and it didn't work. Something gets gunked up when the OD hasn't worked for a while,but after a week it kicked in and has worked ever since. So, give it a little time before you change anything else.

 

since he slotted his solenoid, the relay no longer matters...

flushing the ATF might help. also, remove the solenoid and making sure the passageways in the tranny are clear, it only takes a tiny bit of flug to block that up.

 

Thinking that possibly when I cleaned off the transmission area after removing the solenoid, some garbage may have gotten in there. Hard to see. Any suggestions? Or do I just blow it out with compressed air and hope I clear whatever is in there out, without getting more garbage in again?

 

you probably should have cleaned that off BEFORE removing the solenoid. grit/grime inside a automatic tranny can cause all sorts of problems.

i'd spray down the area with brake-kleen, take a compressor to it to blow away as much grit from the outside as possible, THEN pull the solenoid and use a thin steel wire to gently poke in the two small holes in the side of the tranny that the solenoid 'connects'.