sport/econ and winter modes

[jblackburn]

The button on the shifter lights up - that's it.

That switch does sometimes short out on 850s. Flip it back and forth really quickly for 30 seconds or so and it may help clean the contacts. If not, a shot of electrical contact cleaner in there may help.

[waynej]

Yes there are indicator lights right there at the switch. Very dim, you need to shade them with your hand to be able to see which light is on. Green for econ, red for sport and I think it's both for W. I've seen some cars with so much dirt in that area that the light can's be seen.

[Matty Moo]

If you have TRACS and it's working you should not need winter mode.

Tracs is worthless overall, I've never run into an instance where I was glad that I had it.

[waynej]

I've tried it both ways and now keep it on all winter. It eliminates a lot of spinning. A right turn from a dead stop on wet packed snow will always cause spinning without TRACS.

[Choguy03]

I used winter mode and pulled the lever down to L and it would start in 2nd instead of 3rd. Works great, good traction and easy on the trans with a light throttle.

I agree, this is great to know!

[Billc1015]

The trans "up arrow" light comes on in the dash when you put the car in winter mode.


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[Fish stick88]

I was clarifying that it did that also, mine does, but they didnt mention it back at the bottom of page one. Just to be sure... it should come on, correct?

[Choguy03]

When you are in winter mode, yes it should come one.

[alexk243]

OK, This might be a stupid question, but can you add Traction Control to a 93 850 that came without it?

Reason I ask is that when I pulled out the switch panel where the Tracs switch would be there was wiring for it and looking at a Tracs switch at the junkyard it looks the same. I feel like with ABS all the sensors are there to tell if you have wheel slippage, but maybe the trans doesn't have the ability to redistribute... Just a thought.

[jblackburn]

OK, This might be a stupid question, but can you add Traction Control to a 93 850 that came without it?

Reason I ask is that when I pulled out the switch panel where the Tracs switch would be there was wiring for it and looking at a Tracs switch at the junkyard it looks the same. I feel like with ABS all the sensors are there to tell if you have wheel slippage, but maybe the trans doesn't have the ability to redistribute... Just a thought.

The transmission doesn't do jack in the Volvos with traction control. It pulses the brakes (mostly uselessly) to keep a wheel from spinning. It's helped me out once out of tons of times driving in the snow.

You'd have to change the ABS pump and control module. Honestly, a lot more effort than it's worth. But yeah, the wiring should be there - Volvo fitted all these cars with the wiring needed for any option.