Recently (could colder weather be an issue)"Veda" doesn't want to pull out of park when stepping on the break...Pushing the shift lock override manually will allow her to go into gear...Any thoughts?

The old shift-lock microswitch problem, endemic to this car. Get yourself a new microswitch and a Saturday morning to change it. You'll have to pull the shifter up to access the switch on the upper right, just under the cover plate. I finally said goodbye to mine by re-wiring around it, after it had failed twice.

Steve, Thanks for the prompt response...The microswitch puked... ...Didn't even think about replacing it...Unsoldered the two microswitch connections and soldered them together...Works like a charm... Thanks again for heading me in the right direction...Hey Dave Lotman...You 'da man as usual...Happy Rolling...

I just buypassed my switch on my '93 965 by unsoldering the brown and black wires soldered to the micro swich, and then splicing them together-the switch is no longer wired to anything. I no longer hear the faint click when I press the brake, but it is starting everytime (knock on wood). It's no fun getting stranded!

Now that I have done the splice job, is it normal that the only way to get the car out of park is to press the "Shiftlock Overide" button on the rear of the shifter mechanism? I am wondering if that can hold up on a day to day basis.

Thanks!

Greg, I was having a problem where "Veda" wouldn't pull out of Park while stepping on the break. After troubleshooting it was determined that the microswitch under and to the right of the shifter wasn't "making" (with the key on and foot on break) By bypassing that microswitch I still have to step on the break but I do not have to use the manual override...If you were having a starting problem I don't know how this correlates...If you have a bad solenoid then bypassing the microswitch won't help...I'd check the solenoid...Let me know... I'm not the best troubleshooter but I know someone who is...Thanks...Jeff

Jeff-did you wire yours the same way by connecting the brown and blanck wires? There was also a white wire, but it fed down into the transmission.

Where is this solenoid that you were talking about? My problem sounds the same in that the microswitch under and to the right of the shifter wasn't "making" (with the key on and foot on break). Can you tell me what you did? This is driving me nuts and the dealer said "we couldn't get it to act up on us." Thanks!

Greg, I'm sure we have two different setups...I had two black wires at the microswitch... I have no idea what the white wire on your 960 is...Neutral safety switch? Someone help!

What a nemisis this brick is ('93 965)! Even with the "bypass" of the switch, it STILL has starting problems. The shiftlock overide button needs to be pressed as well to get it out of park. Next attempt will be to rewire the black and brown wires back to the microswitch and go for the brake solenoid. I never touched the white wire, but it appears to feed down into the tranny. Where is the solenoid?! Someone help...please!

Greg, Do yourself a big favor and get the electrical schematic for your car from a Volvo dealer...You are going to need it to understand and troubleshoot your car...It's fairly cheap and contains everything specific to your Make/Model...Hang in there...Jeff

Steve-

I have a '93 965 and was wondering if you could help me out. My car frequently won't start...I'll turn the key and nothing. All indicator lights on the bottom of f the cluster are on however. When I touch the brake pedal, I am not consistently hearing the click coming from the shifter knob. I am not game for buying a new switch...So, how do I "buypass" this mechanism/microswitch. I am affraid that I am going to get stranded! Thankfully, the no start problem has only happened in my driveway. Thanks!

My car had the same symptoms. I turned out to be the PNP switch located on the transmission. The part run about 150 dollars and labor was 150. Some here on the board have changed them on their own.

Dan R 94 960 183K miles

PNP switch is a well-known 960 problem. This is probably the cause.

Jeff:

Either the switch on the brake pedal or the selenoid at the shifter mechanism is on the blink. With the key on and the motor off you should be able to hear a faint or not so faint click coming from the area of the shifter when you press the brake pedal. If you do not hear this click, start checking the individual parts. I should be pretty easy to trouble shoot the system since there are not too many parts.

Good luck and hope this helps.

Hey Mark...Thanks for the info...ended up being the microswitch...