95 850T, Transmission issue, like it's in neutral, flashing arrow and CEL

[JimBee]

So is the "new" right way no drain & fill, just add as needed, regardless of how black it looks?

[JimBee]

Sorry, I hadn't read the whole post. The hard thing is you're not in a place where you can take the time to work on it. Would your dad let you store it there to work on it when you have time? If so, I'm recalling posts by precopster on replacing the solenoids located on the front side of the transmission behind a small case. Whether that's the issue, I don't know

If you really want to keep the car and you can work on it that might be an option for when you have time. It's not a great solution for right now but seems like you don't have a lot of options.
Precopster's name is Mike, I think. He's probably the most experienced tech on this forum regarding transmission internals. Try PM'ing him for ideas.

Good li

[JimBee]

I found a link by precopster. You might try this for advice:
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... le&u=30752

[rspi]

Do you know if the transmission fluid has ever been changed?
Have you checked the mileage with the diagnosis tool under the hood?

[mecheng]

I do something completely different regarding trans fluid change for both my Volvos, it might work for you.

I do a drain and refill, which is about 3.5L and I use a good quality brand. I noticed a big increase in shift quality and the fluid was not burnt but brown.

A year later, I did another fluid change (not much change in shift quality, still buttery smooth). Now I am good for 50,000km minimum and it doesn't shock the transmission. I don't agree with the drain and refil, because it doesn't give the fluid a chance to clean the transmision slowly.

[cn90]

Maybe it was abused or flushed sometimes in the past.
Maybe oil change in the past contributed to early failure.

For auto transmissions is more risky to change the oil than not to do it.

99% of auto transmission failures are happened AFTER oil change.

I have done many ATF changes in many vehicles, zero problems.
Just drain and refill in many cycles.

So the idea that "99% of auto transmission failures are happened AFTER oil change" is urban myth.

[misha]

It's not idea or myth...it's reality!
I have friends which had that exact experience on Grand Cherokee,Audi,Mercedes.

Also have a friend who owns Mercedes service shop and he refuse to change oil in auto transmission.He would do that ONLY on full owner's responsibillity.

One friend changed transmission oil on Grand Cherokee on his own responsibility and transmission broke few km away from the shop.It was working normally before fluid replacement.A lots of examples besides that Cherokee.

[iruleyounow]

I was forced to leave it down in Tennessee. My dad will take it around and have it checked out. The fluid was pretty black. Before I left I did let it fully warm up and ran through the gears and it shifted perfectly. I then drove it a mile and back and it had no issues at all. No slipping or anything. Unfortunately that's about as much as I was able to do before returning home. I was thinking maybe the trans overheated somehow? I'll obviously know more as it gets checked out. I'll keep this updated as much as possible. You guys have all been awesome!

[dosbricks]

99% of auto transmission failures are happened AFTER oil change.

The fluid was pretty black....

Only 141k. So was this tranny one of the 1% which fail even if the fluid was never changed?

How many miles on your wagon, misha?

[misha]

300k+km & works just like from the 1st day i bought it back in 2000.
It was almost 3 years old,brand new with 69k km on the clock when i bought it.