Hey guys-

My '97 850 T_5 wagon has suddenly developed an intermittent transmission problem. Here are the symptoms:

1) started car and shifted into park and car barely moved. I was able to get it up to about 35mph to get it home.
2) no orange arrow on instrument panel
3) goes into reverse fine (a little clunking)
4) moved shift with foot on brake - did not help
5) could not turn winter/wet traction on
6) Waited a day or two and car worked fine. Then the problems developed again. Car sat for a couple of hours and the car was fine.

The transmission fluid is full, but I will change it over the weekend.

It is my commuting car and I like it better than my XC60.

Thanks for the help

Hey guys-

Thanks for the feedback. I just changed the transmission fluid. It was pretty dark and I was able to drain and replace ~3 gallons. I used Valvoline Red Label (thanks Klaus). The car is still the same. There are no codes and the winter mode/ lower gear arrow does not light up. Sometimes the transmission works great, but most of the time it is like it is stuck in low gear.

Any more ideas?

thanks

Is the up arrow illuminating when the key is turned to the "run" (KP II) position but the engine is still off?

The car had been sitting all day and it did have have an arrow in position 2 when I first started it. The car drove fine for a few minutes. I turn it off and immediately restarted and there was no arrow and transmission problem the same. Could be an electrical problem? battery?

Thank you for all of your help --

I'm only basing my thought on recent problems that I had with my '01 S40.

The up arrow did not illuminate on mine either and I had very similar symptoms to yours. Mine would shift hard into reverse and would be in 3rd all the time.
Instead of rehashing the whole problem, here's a link to my thread. Maybe it'll give you some insights.

https://www.brickboard.com/AWD/volvo/1614896/S40-V40/hard_shift_reverse_feels_stuck_3rd.html

My issue turned out to be two wires that were disconnected within the TCM (transmission control module) harness. Thus a communication error. The main computer and transmission computer were not talking to each other so the transmission went into limp mode. It was not an easy diagnosis.

Had a similar problemo. PRP switch and fresh Mobil 1 ATF + a new Magnafine filter did it. I hope you don't have a bad tranny solenoid because that's not a fun job. [but beats a new trans!]
--
The Family Fleet '90 745 16v; '90 745 GLE; 96 855T; 99 XC, collectively approaching 900,000mi and going strong.

Here's the 850 Tranny service info:

http://www.volvotips.com/index.php/850-2/volvo-850-s70-v70-c70-service-repair-manual/volvo-850-automatic-transmission-diagnosis-wiring-diagram/

Bill

Scan the car for errors, eventhough there is no flashing arrow or check engine light. Sounds like limp home mode, stuck in 3rd. Next time that happens, shift down to L and see if that makes a difference.

A tranny flush is called for, just make sure that you flush 2 quarts at a time unless you are just emptying the sump - then measure outflow and put the same amount back. I found that dumping the sump works best on a cold, hasn't been run for a while, tranny - don't start the engine. A lot of the fluid in the tranny internals migrates to the sump overnight.

A fellow Brickboarder suggested that I use Valvoline red lable ATF, for 'older cars'. I haven't done that yet, it is on my list of thing to do after the brakes are working again.
--
My back feels better when I sit in a Volvo seat