thanks for the info....i can't say whether the car was neglected or not, but the fluid is darker than i think it should be. the car has barely got 110k on it.

all of the replacement parts on the car are genuine volvo and the timing belt was replaced already. i suspect that the car was dealer serviced...the car did sit for almost six months before i got a hold of it though.

i was planning on dropping the pan and doing a filter and fluid change, but maybe i'll just do a drain and fill and keep my fingers crossed as suggested.

i will check the detent cable as well because this problem happened only once and the trans has always shifted perfectly both before and after the "incident".

speaking of trans neglect...my 86 wagon has way more than 300k on it. it had been leaking for months before i got it and the previous owner would just feed it trans fluid rather than fix the leak. it was way low on fluid when i got it. i fixed the leak(s) and wondered whether the trans would eventually die due to the obvious abuse it was subject to. it hasn't died yet and still shifts fine. i realize that every car is different, but having this experience with the 86 makes me feel somewhat confident that a fluid change will not kill the trans in this car.
--
1986 volvo 240 wagon 300k ?