Login Register

Transmission not shifting out of First

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

Post Reply
mrealtor
Posts: 22
Joined: 4 September 2008
Year and Model: S70,1998
Location: Orlando Florida

Transmission not shifting out of First

Post by mrealtor »

1998 s70 non turbo 298,000 miles owned since new. Fluid changes with Mobil 1 Syn. Last Transmissions
flush and refill 100,000 miles ago. Nice pink color no smell. Lovely drive to West Coast of Florida for Labor Day. Stopped for Rest,
Restroom. Started car put in R backed up put in D took off noticed high revving, surprise no shifting. Tried shifting
manually from S to D no shift out of L I think. Stopped put in P pushed to button to E it was in S which was a surprise.
Put in D same thing revving to 3000 (I let off gas at 3000) but no shift. Maximum speed 20 mph. Red arrow comes on when I manually shit to S, otherwise no arrow, no blinking, no "get Home mode".
Transmission clunks into R and D when first started now. Didn't before. Have an OBD II scanner haven't tried it.
Oh, ABS and Trax light on, Module was next on list to send out to be fixed. Recent speedometer would quit/stop/turn off/
start/speedometer would work.
Tell me something easy or hard but tell me something. ;) Is there a Trans Scan ?
Old mechanic modern car

jimmy57
Posts: 6694
Joined: 12 November 2010
Year and Model: 2004 V70R GT, et al
Location: Ponder Texas
Has thanked: 4 times
Been thanked: 320 times

Post by jimmy57 »

Almost without question a stuck solenoid. Not a big deal. Some write ups on here about changing them.

User avatar
rspi
Posts: 7303
Joined: 5 November 2011
Year and Model: 850 T-5R Wagon
Location: Cincinnati OH
Has thanked: 34 times
Been thanked: 72 times
Contact:

Post by rspi »

Where are you now? I would press the tranny into the Winter mode which should make it start in 3rd gear, bypassing 1st and 2nd which will get you home in a hurry, not 20 mph.
'95 855 T-5R M, Panther - 22/28 mpg, 546,000 miles
'95 955 T-5R Yellow Wagon, Lemonade, 180,000 miles
--------------------
Volvo's of past: '87 740 GLE, '79 262C Bertone, '78 264, 960's, '98 S70 GLT, '95 850 T-5R YellowVolvo Repair Videos

mrealtor
Posts: 22
Joined: 4 September 2008
Year and Model: S70,1998
Location: Orlando Florida

Post by mrealtor »

I got her home, and thanks for the replies, I will check out the Solenoid posts, and report back. I just felt like it was
something stuck or a vacuum problem. Honestly don't know much about automatic transmissions. But, I will read the Posts
and Captain Kirk it "Boldly Go".
Old mechanic modern car

jblackburn
MVS Moderator
Posts: 14043
Joined: 8 June 2008
Year and Model: 1998 S70 T5
Location: Alexandria, VA
Has thanked: 9 times
Been thanked: 19 times

Post by jblackburn »

These transmissions are electronically controlled unlike the vacuum controlled transmissions of the 60s-80s.

FCP Groton sells new solenoids, or you can do what I did with a car with ridiculously high miles on it already - source used solenoids from a scrapyard from a car with low mileage.

Solenoid replacement isn't too bad, but the bolts on the transmission cover can be a real pain to get off or even access the lower ones. I had to unbolt the subframe and jack the car a few inches to even get to 2 of the bolts.
'98 S70 T5
2016 Chevy Cruze Premier


A learning experience is one of those things that says, "You know that thing you just did? Don't do that."

mercuic: Long live the tractor motor!

precopster
Posts: 7543
Joined: 21 August 2010
Year and Model: Lots
Location: Melbourne Australia
Has thanked: 8 times
Been thanked: 128 times

Post by precopster »

I wonder if a sharp rap on the solenoid cover will free up the stuck solenoid so he can use it for a little while.

jblackburn did boldly go where no man has gone before. Why don't you link this guy to your post on this one, Justin?

Sent using Tapatalk 2
Current cars VW Transporter 2.5TDI, 2010 XC90 D5 R Design

jblackburn
MVS Moderator
Posts: 14043
Joined: 8 June 2008
Year and Model: 1998 S70 T5
Location: Alexandria, VA
Has thanked: 9 times
Been thanked: 19 times

Post by jblackburn »

I never really took pictures or did a write-up, as they already existed.

Here is essentially the process I went through to change the solenoids in mine:
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =1&t=47779

It's not overly complicated, but is time-consuming. I kinda stumbled my way through it, made all the more difficult by not having great tools and working after work for 2-3 hours at a time on it in a parking lot.

Here's my whole saga with it if you want to read:
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =1&t=38920
'98 S70 T5
2016 Chevy Cruze Premier


A learning experience is one of those things that says, "You know that thing you just did? Don't do that."

mercuic: Long live the tractor motor!

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post