96 850 A $400.00 car has P0733

Post by **kahl** » 14 Jun 2014, 19:30

Hi Guys, I just picked up a 96 850 with 131k on the clock for a work car. paid a whopping $400.00 for the 850. Picked it up today in NJ and drove it to Ohio. I knew it had an issue before I bought the car. I can clear the code P0733 and the flashing arrow and the CEL goes out. It will start out fine in first but second gear will not engage, it goes directly to third from first at a high shift point. No other codes are thrown, just P0733 and the dreaded blinking arrow. For the entire trip it only came on three times and only if I did not gently bring the RPMs up to the shift point. Once I am in third and did not trigger the code the car drove wonderful. It has the 2.4 engine.

we know have 8 vols in the family from 94 to 03. We have not had to pull an engine and tranny yet, but we are up to the task of putting in a salvage tranny. I am hopeful I have a problem with the S1 or S2 solenoids. There is a great post here how to R and R these solenoids.

I have searched the older posts with P0733 and most of the posts include other tranny codes such as P0734 wich concludes that there is some heavy failure in the trany.

I would greatly appreciate your thought on this tranny issue.

Post by **Ben850** » 14 Jun 2014, 19:37

Start with a drain and fill. Drive some more. Repeat.
I would bet it would not hurt, if not make it much better. I have done it to two 850 vehicles with many more miles and it seems to have been of great help.

Search transmission Drain and fill.

Post by **rspi** » 14 Jun 2014, 20:52

When I had that code I ended up having a used tranny installed. I changed fluid a few times and things did work better. In a moment of frustration (GPS confusion) I put my foot in it and lost 1 st gear.

I didn't try any solenoid changes. Probably could have driven the car for years like that but I did want low end torque and kick down features, why else own a T5-R.

Post by **kahl** » 14 Jun 2014, 21:03

there were a few times during the trip when I was at 55mph I pushed the pedal and the car downshifted to third gear with no hesitation. with the sound of power that the 2.4 has, while at speed over 40 mph it drove just like our 94 840 2.4. The problem only happens going from first to second. reverse is perfect. While coming to a stop the trany always makes it back to first gear.

Post by **kahl** » 15 Jun 2014, 11:17

hi Guys, Went out this morning and drove the car. I could not get the arrow light to trigger. Shifting was much smoother. The shift point from first to second is still high. The Econ/sport switch has no impact
In regard to shift points. This leads me to believe the Econ/sport switch is bad.

The previous owner called me this morning to see how the trip home went. he is not really a car guy, but this is what he shared. the car was drive less than 2K miles per year in the last five years, it sat. this spring he noticed the shifting problem and had the trany fluid flushed. The flush had no impact on his the car's shifting on his way home from the shop so he elected to sell the car. I am wishfully thinking that the 583 mile drive home with the new trany fluid cleaned the solenoids or other internal parts.

I'd like your opinions and my course of action.
1. Change the trany fluid
2. Install new Econ/sport switch

thanks!!

Klausc · Post by **Klausc** » 15 Jun 2014, 11:34

Neglected Volvos have a way of fixing themselves. I have an E/S/M switch in my pile, it is old and the catch for the S doesn't work, so the switch will slowly rise to the E position. I believe default is E. A junk yard visit is in the cards for you before buying a new switch. They are easy to pop out after lifting out the cover under the ebrake handle.

If the tranny fluid has only 1,000 mile on it, give it at least another 1,000 miles. Make sure you drive the car as much as possible and monitor the fluid color and level weekly. You might have a bargain car.

Post by **kahl** » 15 Jun 2014, 14:50

here are a couple pictures of this $400.00

Post by **rmmagow** » 15 Jun 2014, 15:00

You did good. Even putting in a tranny would be worth it.

Post by **jreed** » 15 Jun 2014, 15:39

Gorgeous shine! Looks great!

Post by **kahl** » 15 Jun 2014, 19:10

Hi again, I finaly got the flashing arrow and a code P0732. In addition I drove with the car in Low gear and could not get into second gear. My understanding is that while in low the trany will select first or second gear only. In addition when I manually select third gear then manually shift into to low the trany will select first gear only. I cannot get second gear to engage maually or automaticly.

After reading numerous posts here and other places I am concluding that either the S1 or S2 transmition solenoid is inop. Could someone tell me witch solenoid controls second gear?