96' 850 transmission issue, need advice

rybu0305 · Post by **rybu0305** » 16 Nov 2010, 18:16

I recently acquired this 850 with about 153K. It has been driving really good until tonight. I pulled out from a stop sign and suddenly had very weird shifting going on. It started shifting at weird times and just not feeling right, making weird transmission noises. The check engine light came on and up arrow started blinking.

I got to my destination (about 8 miles) and turned the car off. I checked the fluid and it was right at the hot line. The fluid was nice and red not brown but did smell a bit burnt and there were some bubbles. I don't know if it was normal bubbles or not.

After sitting for about 10 minutes I drive back home and the check engine light and arrow were still on but it shifted fine.

I'm kind of afraid to drive it but don't have another vehicle and need to go to work. The nearest non dealer Volvo specialist is about an hour away. The nearest dealership is about 30 minutes away. Do you think I'm going to need a new tranny?
Is this something I can just go to the dealer for and see what wrong. Maybe just get a flush and I"ll be ok???
Do I really need to take the time to go to the other Volvo specialist? Everyone seems to be very anti-dealer
Has anyone else experienced this?
Do you think I should get it towed so I don't damage anything more or should it be ok?

Thanks!

Post by **jblackburn** » 16 Nov 2010, 18:34

Row your shifter back and forth between P and L 20 times and see if it goes away. This sounds like it may just be a PNP switch issue. Let us know if that works. In the meantime, if it seems like it bogs down from a start, go very easy on it - starting in 3rd gear is just torture to the torque converter.

rybu0305 · Post by **rybu0305** » 16 Nov 2010, 19:14

Thanks do I do this with the engine running or off?
Also, should I go to the dealer or Volvo specialist and get a flush ASAP???
Any other suggestions if that doesn't work?
I really cannot afford a major repair right now. I can do a flush but that is about it.

Post by **jblackburn** » 16 Nov 2010, 19:17

Engine off. A flush may help if that doesn't do anything for you, but it's very easy to do yourself on one of these with very little effort and only takes 30 minutes or so. Look for 'modified flush method' in the repair database.

rybu0305 · Post by **rybu0305** » 16 Nov 2010, 19:24

I did it 25 times That got the arrow to stop blinking but now the check engine light is on.

Post by **jblackburn** » 16 Nov 2010, 19:33

Don't worry about that, it's probably something small. Looking at your car the wrong way will cause that check engine light to come on. Take it to an auto parts store (Advance, Autozone, O'reillys, etc) tomorrow and have the codes pulled. Write down the P0xxx number their scanner spits out and post back.

You're in for a new PNP switch or a good cleaning in the near future. There's a write-up in the repair database for that too.

rybu0305 · Post by **rybu0305** » 16 Nov 2010, 20:13

Thanks I found the PNP write up. I would probably do more harm than good trying all that. I'll find out what code I have now.

rybu0305 · Post by **rybu0305** » 18 Nov 2010, 22:13

My Volvo has not had any of the same issues since this happened and I found out the code. Now I am getting P0734, gear 4 incorrect ratio. I think I am going to do a trans fluid flush this weekend. Since I don't have all the tools and parts to the the modified flush described on this site I am think of doing a modified, modified, flush. This is what I am thinking of doing, it won't be as good as the normal flush but better than nothing I guess.

Drain 3.x quarts
Replaced drained amount
Run engine for a couple minutes
Drain 3.x quarts again
Replaced drained amount
Run engine for a couple minutes
Drain 3.x quarts again
Replaced drained amount

I will have drained around 10 quarts and added about 10 quarts. What do you think?

Also, can someone tell me the specific size crush washer I need to buy if I am going somewhere like Advanced?
Thanks

Post by **jblackburn** » 18 Nov 2010, 23:37

Are you saying you will just dump the pan over and over? I suppose that could work, though I'd just buy a length of transmission line and a couple empty milk jugs and let the transmission pump pump out the old fluid. You'll get less mixed fluid this way, as it goes through the torque converter and then back into the transmission pan this way. All you need for "special tools" is a pair of long needlenose pliers to undo the clamp at the radiator - I got some at Harbor Freight for $3.

Changing the fluid is worth a shot; though most of the time a gear incorrect ratio code is PNP-switch related.

Post by **erikv11** » 18 Nov 2010, 23:40

Sure, this method will help a lot to change the fluid if you don't want to get too involved. System capacity is 8 quarts so to give you an idea:

Say you start with 100% of the ATF fluid is dirty
Drain 3 qts dirty, replace 3 qts clean, drive to mix up the ATF you now have about 63% dirty fluid
Repeat another 3 qts, moves the car to about 40% dirty fluid
Repeat another 3 qts, moves the car to about 25% dirty fluid

Changin out 3/4 of the fluid should help a lot if the ATF fluid is in bad shape to start with.

Any Dexron ATF will do, I use cheap Wal-mart brand and do the whole flush about every 30k miles.