The overdrive on my 2002 protege LX started acting up the other day. I would press the OD off button and it would downshift and the OD off light would go on... as it's supposed to. Then all of a sudden the OD light would go off and resume normal operation.... then randomly turn off and on (upshift/downshift). I would be driving down the highway at 70 or so and all of a sudden the OD light would go on and it would downshift. Not good.

No codes were present.

I noticed the OD button "felt" different... didn't click like it used to. So I removed the center console between the seats (6 Philips screws). I disconnected the plug that the OD switch goes to, and put an ohm meter on the 2 blue wires. When I pressed the button and released it, it would show a close and open. Several more presses revealed that the switch was bad in that the resistance didn't read infinite when the switch was released. Kinda fluctuated between dead short and several different readings.. but didn't go back to open.

I also checked the harness side of the connector for 12 volts on one of the blue wires. Good there.

I picked up a cheap momentary switch at the parts store, drilled a hole in the plate that surrounds the shifter (cup holder)... spliced the old wiring to the new switch, and mounted the switch. I had to partially assemble the console off the vehicle to pick a good mounting place for the switch.

Worked like a charm. Hope this helps someone else.

Oh... the only problem I have with this setup is remembering I installed it in a different place.... so I still press the old button until I realize it's not working.

 

.... I'm finally used to the buttons new location. It's convenient and the fix was only a few dollars for the switch. Looks like it almost belongs on the car, now.

 

I may have to resort to your solution. The O/D OFF button fell off the shifter of my '98 Protege ES, and I didn't notice it until I went to use it. Think I found all the little pieces and deduced out how they should all go together, but have not been successful restoring operation of the switch. Must be missing something and have found no discussions or diagrams to point me to a solution.

John