flashing arrow

kurai · Post by **kurai** » 30 Oct 2009, 12:59

I bought the car with a beat tranny and replaced it recently. The car runs great now, but the orange arrow flashes almost constantly.

I brought it to the shop and they just told me it had something to do with the gears and it not being able to recognize that its fully in gear or something like that, Im not sure... He wasn't very clear.
The arrow does go away if we reset the computer, or sometimes on its own, but its never off for more than 10 miles. If it is off, it will mostly come back on when going over bumps, or on the highway...

So my real question is, how big of a problem is this?

How would i go about fixing this?

Will the winter mode still work (winters right around the corner)?

And should i even worry about it?

Post by **billofdurham** » 30 Oct 2009, 13:27

I would worry about it. This is a quote from the owner's manual:

The lamp will light up when the Winter starting mode is engaged or if gears "3" or "L" are selected.
If the warning lamp begins to flash, this means that there is a fault in the automatic gearbox. Contact your Volvo dealer.

You say:

The arrow does go away if we reset the computer, or sometimes on its own, but its never off for more than 10 miles.

When you reset the computer how do you do it and do you check for fault codes before resetting it?

Who actually fitted the box? Was it a general shop or a specialist gearbox shop? The flashing arrow is telling you something and you shouldn't just ignore it.

Bill.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 30 Oct 2009, 13:39

Pull the codes from port A-1 and post them back. If you have never read the codes here is how it is done.

http://volvospeed.com/CheckEngine.php

The writeup is specific to reading codes from the ECU (Port A-2) but it works excatly the same when reading codes from the TCU (port A-1).

...Lee

Post by **JRL** » 30 Oct 2009, 15:38

Damn right you should worry about it, you should not drive it as it is.
It's two things, the PNP switch is shot.
"ROW" the shifter back and forth about 20 times with the engine on and see if that helps, if so replace the switch
The only other thing is an internal shift fault in the tranny.
Was this rebuilt by you or did you buy a reman from Volvo?

If you continue to drive it with the flashing arrow, you WILL burn out the transmission, I will guarantee you this

EDay · Post by **EDay** » 02 Nov 2009, 03:25

yea I got the same problem on the flashing arrow too before, the code says Transmission slip, and the only way is to change the transmission.

I remember when the flashing arrow started when Im going up the hill.
try to change the trans oil 1st and see if helps.

kurai · Post by **kurai** » 03 Nov 2009, 01:51

the tranny was changed less than 3000 miles ago..

we bought the new tranny from a junkyard, actually. Its only got 60k on it. and other than the arrow, theres no issues.

I havent gotten a changed to read the codes yet

oh and when we reset the computer we did it by disconecting the computer for a few minutes

EDay · Post by **EDay** » 03 Nov 2009, 03:11

Kurai...try to check your tranny fluid 1st..compare your tranny fluid color with the fresh fluid that you have left...and 2nd try to smell it if it smell like burning..and 3rd try to rub your fluid between your fingers if its watery or not..let me know you result.

kurai · Post by **kurai** » 06 Nov 2009, 02:48

the fluid looks, smells and feels like it would right outta the bottle

Post by **polskamafia mjl** » 06 Nov 2009, 14:21

You need to read the codes so we can find out what the transmission is telling you.

EDay · Post by **EDay** » 06 Nov 2009, 23:55

yup and we can help you look into it, if you know how to dignose it.