94 850 turbo No engagement of auto transmission

jsepe1126 · Post by **jsepe1126** » 12 Sep 2013, 20:06

Hey everyone,
I just purchased a 1994 Volvo 850 Turbo. The person i bought it from said it needs a new PNP switch...I am not sure this is TRUE....when the car turns over and i put it into gear it doesnt do anything...put it in drive and it makes a sound or vibration really quick like it wants to go in drive? Auto transmission too

so it just doesnt go into gear.......

mfagus · Post by **mfagus** » 12 Sep 2013, 21:48

Have you checked the fluid level in the trans?

Post by **jblackburn** » 12 Sep 2013, 22:25

Reverse lights come on when the car is put into reverse? If so, and it's not very touchy about where the lights come on, the PNP switch is probably aligned and working just fine.

+1, check the fluid.

jsepe1126 · Post by **jsepe1126** » 13 Sep 2013, 07:03

so when i check the levels and they're good what would be next step?

Post by **rspi** » 13 Sep 2013, 07:23

Sorry but it's not possible to check fluid level if you can't drive the car. What I would do is pull the drain plug and inspect the fluid, then add back 3-3/4 quarts.

Also, does the reverse lights come on when placed in reverse?

jsepe1126 · Post by **jsepe1126** » 13 Sep 2013, 07:48

yes reverse lights come on i believe

jsepe1126 · Post by **jsepe1126** » 13 Sep 2013, 08:02

also keep in mind the car has only 109k miles

Post by **rmmagow** » 13 Sep 2013, 09:49

Even though the car won't move, you can start it, try shifting through the gears, let it idle, oh maybe 10~15 mins or so and check the fluid. If you see none, maybe that's it or if it is really nasty try changing it. I MIGHT BE WRONG, but I think letting it idle for a while should warm up the fluid enough to see it on the dipstick. Any chance the radiator broke and let water leak into the tranny?
PS, this isn't an accurate way to measure fluid level, just possibly a way to see if there's any in there. You must drive the car to read accurate levels.

Post by **rmmagow** » 13 Sep 2013, 09:50

Check your drive shafts, make sure they didn't pop out from the tranny.

jsepe1126 · Post by **jsepe1126** » 13 Sep 2013, 12:44

so i went to shop they said the transmission was bad....how much is a used one