I have a 1990 760 turbo with a transmission problem. One week ago trans. was very slow in up shifting when cold. After warming up started from a dead stop in second gear. Those symptoms dissapeared now when going in reverse it acts like the brake is on. The car will not roll backwards with the car in neutral or reverse. With the engine off it will roll backwards in any gear except in park. ?????


thanks Tim Ward

check tranny fluid for level, dirtiness, and contamination from antifreeze. if there is antifreeze in it, stop driving it immediately before things get worse. if it's really dirty, try a flush.
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Kenric Tam
1990 Volvo 740 base sedan (B230F)
My Volvo 'Project'

Kenric covered the other things to check. I've read that "pump starvation" secondary to a plugged trans. strainer will cause this problem also although not common unless the tranny has been really abused. Volvo no longer even recommends dropping the pan to clean this strainer as routine maintance. Pull your dipstick and wipe on a new, clean paper towel. Check with engine running in Park. Your fluid should be red in color. If it is brown or smells burnt you'll need a flush. Antifreeze will appear milky and is pretty unmistakable. Also inspect your expansion tank for telltale signs of ATF in the coolant. Resist the urge to remove that tempting little bolt in the tranny pan. Chances are 50/50 you'll strip it and have more problems than you have now. Get some 3/8 ID vinyl tubing from Home Depot, disconnect the upper tranny cooler line at the radiator and insert the tubing on the radiator nipple. Follow the procedure in the FAQ to flush. Actually seeing the fluid flow from the rad into a container will give you a very good idea of it's condition, better than looking at a tiny bit on a paper towel.. Good luck

bl

We had an internal failure of a 91 740 radiator that allowed antifreeze to mix with the trans. fluid. ALthough we flushed the tranny many times to try and get the antifreeze out, it destroyed the internal clutches and doomed the tranny. The first symptom was as you describe, in that it felt as if the brake was on as you tried to back up and the car would not roll back on it's own in reverse. This eventually (over a week) began happening in the forward gears. Hope this isn't your problem but it sounds suspicious.

Good luck

bl