Hello everyone! I have a question (well two) about my recently purchased 86' volvo 240 wagon.

The first question may seem very...elementary...but it is an honest question. I recently purchased my Volvo, and the I believe the kid I bought it from lied about many things about the car, I actually think that the car was given to him by a family member or something and he never really drove it. The question I have is about gear locations on the 4 speed, with possible overdrive. After I got on the highway and started driving home, I called the kid I bought it from and asked him where 5th gear/overdrive was located, because i couldn't find it and the ad said it was a 5 speed manual. I have decided that is definitely a 4 speed, but I can't tell if it has overdrive or not. I have heard that the wires in the shift **** can break and disable the option to shift into overdrive, but without an owners manual or a knowledgeable previous owner, is there anyway I can tell if it is suppose to have overdrive?

My next question is about taillight wiring. My driver side taillight was broke out, and I installed a new one, but the tail light does not light up unless I press in the break pedal or use the turn signal. Where would there be a wiring issue that would prevent the tail light from staying lit while i am driving with the headlights on? I am getting tired of being pulled over for a taillight being out ha ha. Thanks!

 

Taillight bulbs either contain 2 filaments- one for the brake light and one for the taillight, or 2 separate bulbs. The taillight filament is dimmer than the brake light filament. I suspect that either 1 filament/ bulb is burned out, or you have a wiring issue to the taillamp itself. As for the transmission, your car is probably equipped with the 4- speed w/ overdrive, which can basically be considered a 5- speed transmission in which 5th gear is in a separate housing and electrically operated. Is there a button in the middle of your shifter ****? if so, you have the electronic overdrive. No button? What is the shift pattern? 1-2-3-4 or 1-2-3-4-5? I'm not sure when the plain, non- OD equpped 4- speed trans was discontinued in the US.

 

There is a button i pull up on the shift know that I use to put it in reverse, and I see some wires running through the ****, and just to clarify, 5th gear/OD is engaged by pushing in the clutch and pulling up on the switch correct? Oh, and the pattern is 1-2-3-4

 

here is the owner's manual:
https://www.customers.volvocars.com/...0/86240_00.htm

 

Here is a pic of what I am working with on my shift ****...Where are these two wires suppose to plug into?

 

I can only imagine those are meant to be attatched to the switch that controls the overdrive, I can't think of any other reason for there to be wires sticking out of the shift ****. I think you'll need a new one of those. If you find a new shift **** with a switch you might not be out of the woods yet, the overdrive doesn't always work on these old cars.

 

Yeah when I went for a drive later I touched the wires together in 4th gear and it activated my overdrive. So I'm assuming I need a new shifter and new button and I should be able to hook it back up?

 

yup... that will do it! You're one of the lucky ones whose overdrive actually works okay. Tip: get a replacement shifter from a salvage yard, but get a new overdrive button... I believe FCPGroton sells them, (fcpgroton.com) or IPD (ipdusa.com) Both of these companies are great sources for Volvo parts. Oh,, and don't really worry about the overdrive unit itself... when they have problems, its almost always something to do with the control system- either the button, the relay, wiring, or solenoid. Good luck!