5th gear problems

I have a 940 2.0 litre turbo, petrol (wentworth) and the button operated fifth gear has just stopped working. Any suggestions for problems a novice could remedy before I trek off to be fleeced by the local garage?

Any help greatly appreciated.

[Peter Milnes]

What year is your car? The letter in the middle of the VIN is the best way to tell. I will assume that you have an M46 manual gearbox with overdrive unit. This is what is selected by the fifth gear button on the gear stick. Does the light go on and off when you operate the button? This will give a clue as to the location of the fault. There is a relay which is operated by the button, which in turn selects the overdrive solenoid on the side of the overdrive unit. This is dependant on the fourth gear switch on the side of the gearbox which will disengage the overdrive when fourth gear is not selected. Generally the relay or wiring is causing the fault.

All the best, Peter

Thanks,

It is a 92 (identified by 'N' in the VIN number). There is (as far as I know) no light to indicate overdrive; if there should be then it is also inoperative but has never worked since I bought the car (almost a year ago) even when overdrive was working. Where would an overdrive light be if there was one?

Any suggestions what repair costs might be for either of these two faults?

Thanks again,

MC

I just got under the car and noticed a loose wire so you are probably right - a wiring fault seems likely. Once its up on a ramp it will be easier to see if this is related or (yet) another unrelated problem.

Thanks,

MC

On my two cars with overdrive, the light is the one on the left hand side next to the reset button for the trip. I know that there are relays which do not include the light function so it is possible that yours should not have one. If is of course also possible that the bulb is gone.

George

Resident near Leuven in Belgium

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