On my '84 volvo (my car for picking up the ladies) - i have a manual transmission with a button on it that in 4th gear, drops the revs down about 750 rpm. What's going on here? - i know it's a seperate component than the transmission, but how does it do that magicly at the touch of a button?

 

LOL, I remember a few Volvos that did this... To tell the truth i was never really sure what was going on, you would shift thru 4 gears, then press a button, why not just shift one more gear.

Best I can figure, is that it is an actual gear, and it electronically changes into 5th. I'd like to think that, but I have to admit it seems way more complicated then it has to be.

If anyone knows for sure, I would love to know the answer.

 

My 85 vette had an manual trans with OD. It was called the 4+3. It had an overdrive unit
behind the transmission than lowered the overall drive ration for a given gear. Normally it
would be on but it could be manually turned on or off for 2nd,3rd or 4th gear by using a
button on the top of the shifter. If you accelerated full throttle in 1st it would not engage
OD untillyou let off the gas and if you were in 4th and floored it, it would drop out of OD
for passing. That feature I liked, you never had to downshift to pass.

However, on balance I would have rather had a 5 spd.

 

You know what? that make so much more sense..Thanks

 

I had a Humber Hawk with electric overdrive on 3rd and 4th. I think it reduced the speed of the propshaft on that particular model.

 

I'll bet your 84 Volvo has a UCLA sticker in the rear window. What class!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by The Raptor
[B]I'll bet your 84 Volvo has a UCLA sticker in the rear window.