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Aunte donnareidbrown,
To find shops, both independent and stealership, try:
- http://www.brickboard.com/SHOPS/
- http://www.volvomechanics.com/
Then research the shops for others opinion and any BBB (Better Business Bureau) activity.
The hourly labor rates between independent auto repair facilities and the stealerships are about the same. In some instances, the stealerships may be cheaper on labor, yet use OEM parts at the absolute premium.
Too bad you can buy the parts OEM from Tasca (about thee days from Rhode Island to you in Alabama).
As for your post (http://www.brickboard.com/PICKNPULL/volvo/1582723/1995_960_wagon_transmission_electrical_problems.html)
Transmission - Replace the transmission fluid with that specified by the owner manual. You make no mention you checked the fluid as to whether it was topped up as well as the fluid condition.
Flashing engine and transmission warning lights - I'm unsure whether the 1995 960 had OBD-I or OBD-II diagnotics.
OBD-I: See here at http://www.brickboard.com/FAQ/700-900/EngineOBDCodes.htm
OBD-II: If you can, take the car to an Autozone or other autoparts store that offers free use of an OBD-II code analyzer.
OBD-I and OBD-II: Record all codes. Repeat the procedure until no new codes are presented by the fault code display output.
(You may want to familiarize yourself with the http://www.brickboard.com/FAQ/700-900/. You may also want to get a service manual. Volvo OEM green service manuals or, perhaps, Haynes, if you best bet. No Bentley service manual for Volvo 700-900 AFAIK.)
You may also want to review the article on the brickboard under RWD, yet more specifically to your model. The 1995 model year Volvo 960 has some issues with aluminum engine block casting (the engine may be a replacement by now, check your fathers service records or verify the engine number either matches or not with the 1995 Volvo 960 VIN), at 98k miles and 18 years all timing belts and related timing wear items MUST be replaced on the B6304 engine or else suffer engine destroying damage if the feeble timing belts breaks, and there are other wear item service matters you may want to treat such as front and rear suspension bushings, the engine PCV valve (can clog if using mineral and not synthetic mineral engine oil), and much more.
The 960 is a touchy beast that responds to good care. They do not suffer neglect as with other, older, Volvo RWD models like the 240. The 960 series becomes better in the final two-three years of the model run as the model plate S90 for the sedan and the V90 for the wagon.
The mechanic you are using is doing you no goof and is ripping you off whether out of their ignorance or their conscious greed. I'll take the latter. The auto repair industry is wholly corrupt and truly unfair to women and the otherwise the electromechanically illiterate, no matter the gender.
You can then begin fomenting a further diagnostic and service strategy for your father's 1995 Volvo 960.
Hope that helps.
Kitteh's Grey Fuzzy Volvo 240.
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Kitteh.
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