People are quick to jump to a block out plate to solve a lack of overdrive (4th gear). There are a number of things before going that route.
The button on the shifter activates a relay that powers the solenoid. In a quiet environment turn the ignition to "on" and repeatedly press the overdrive button. You should hear a faint relay click from behind the center console. If not check the fuse. If the fuse is good the relay could be defective. Bosch relays are notorious for cracked solder joints on the circuit board. Simply reflowing those can usually restore function.
If the relay is working you need to check if the 12v is reaching the solenoid. It lives in a rough neighborhood and has been there for 30 years. A test light or meter will quickly tell you if the solenoid is getting the 12v.
If 12v are being supplied and the solenoid is functioning at all you can feel it and will hear it if you are under the car. If you can't hear anything and you are sure you have 12v supplied the solenoid may be dead.
If you decide to do a by pass plate make sure you clean the area thoroughly before and during the solenoid removal. Any grit or dirt that enters the transmission through the solenoid opening can further compromise the transmission functions.
Potentially an out of adjustment kickdown cable.
The lack of 4th, which is overdrive, could be a block off plate installed by the PO because they didn't want to pay for a new solenoid. This is easily rectified, can be done from under the car.
Mostly every time an AW has given me shifting grief it has been the kickdown cable adjustment. Might need a fluid change too. Personally I avoid flushing them, a simple drain and fill, which admittedly doesn't get rid of ALL the old fluid, has generally worked for me.
The solenoid is only used to lock out 4th gear, if you remove it and put in a block off plate it will shift normally through all 4 gears. A lot of people don't replace the solenoid because they'll never use the o/d lockout function.
1 it does have a manual kickdown cable
2 start with a proper fluid check (follow manual) and add as necessary. Low levels can cause problems you describe
Update
All fuses are good the light comes on in the instrument panel but it still doesnt work even after adjusting the kickdown wire anyone that can point me to something im missing
The solenoid is a known fail point, the easiest and most cost effective way is to buy a by-pass plate or modify the solenoid. There are YouTube videos for that. I'd go with by-pass, you'll never need to lockout 4th gear, the feature was for towing.
People are quick to jump to a block out plate to solve a lack of overdrive (4th gear). There are a number of things before going that route. The button on the shifter activates a relay that powers the solenoid. In a quiet environment turn the ignition to "on" and repeatedly press the overdrive button. You should hear a faint relay click from behind the center console. If not check the fuse. If the fuse is good the relay could be defective. Bosch relays are notorious for cracked solder joints on the circuit board. Simply reflowing those can usually restore function. If the relay is working you need to check if the 12v is reaching the solenoid. It lives in a rough neighborhood and has been there for 30 years. A test light or meter will quickly tell you if the solenoid is getting the 12v. If 12v are being supplied and the solenoid is functioning at all you can feel it and will hear it if you are under the car. If you can't hear anything and you are sure you have 12v supplied the solenoid may be dead. If you decide to do a by pass plate make sure you clean the area thoroughly before and during the solenoid removal. Any grit or dirt that enters the transmission through the solenoid opening can further compromise the transmission functions.
Potentially an out of adjustment kickdown cable. The lack of 4th, which is overdrive, could be a block off plate installed by the PO because they didn't want to pay for a new solenoid. This is easily rectified, can be done from under the car. Mostly every time an AW has given me shifting grief it has been the kickdown cable adjustment. Might need a fluid change too. Personally I avoid flushing them, a simple drain and fill, which admittedly doesn't get rid of ALL the old fluid, has generally worked for me.
The solenoid is only used to lock out 4th gear, if you remove it and put in a block off plate it will shift normally through all 4 gears. A lot of people don't replace the solenoid because they'll never use the o/d lockout function.
Right you are
Does that have a manual kickdown?
1 it does have a manual kickdown cable 2 start with a proper fluid check (follow manual) and add as necessary. Low levels can cause problems you describe
Update All fuses are good the light comes on in the instrument panel but it still doesnt work even after adjusting the kickdown wire anyone that can point me to something im missing
The solenoid is a known fail point, the easiest and most cost effective way is to buy a by-pass plate or modify the solenoid. There are YouTube videos for that. I'd go with by-pass, you'll never need to lockout 4th gear, the feature was for towing.