2000 S80 won't shift out of park

LenSisson · Post by **LenSisson** » 10 Jan 2003, 20:29

We just bought an S80 2.9 2 days ago and yesterday it started sticking in park after it was started. It seems that after waiting with the engine running for a few minutes the gearshift releases and then works fine until the next time we start the car. I am depressing the brake when I attempt to shift out of park. I've read some posts about earlier models that apparently have a shiftlock release--does the S80 have such a feature? The car is still under warrantee but I haven't called the Volvo dealer yet. Anybody have experience with this?

elzear · Post by **elzear** » 06 Jan 2004, 12:18

I had a similar problem except that my car would not shift oput of park if it had been sitting at idle for more than a few minutes. It seems that the solenoid that is activated by the brake pedal was saffected by the heat of the exhaust system. if the car was moving there was enough airflow to cool the solenoid. Every time I took it to the dealer it worked fine until i told them to let the car idle for a few minutes. They finally replaced the solenoid and every thing was fine after that. it seems that some of the factory installed solenoids were defective. The S-80 unlike older Volvos does not have a manuel shift lock release. Don't you just love modern technology

Elzear

1stVolvo-S80 · Post by **1stVolvo-S80** » 08 Jan 2004, 16:57

This is so strange! We bought our 2000 S80 turbo in October. The past 2 or 3 weeks this problem has started. We brought the car to the dealership for the 30000 Service and asked them to take a look. They could not replicate the issue. It happens very infrequently, but generally right after startup. It's the strangest thing!

They had to replace my upper motor mount, and another door lock mechanism. My trip computer is also defective so I have to go back. Sigh, I love the car, but these little things are bugging my mind out! Did we buy a bad car?

I will followup if they finally find the problem.
Melissa

guest · Post by **guest** » 05 Aug 2005, 12:49

I can relate to this problem a little,
When I am parked on my friends steep driveway and start the car to leave, the shift from Park to Drive requires a LOT of strength to execute (Almost forcing it). The first time I visited with my Volvo I almost gave up trying to leave thinking that there was something wrong with the car. Now I have accepted this behavior as something normal when it is parked on a slopping surface. I live in the Texas Plains thus there are not many slopes that I park my car on so I rarely experience this otherwise.

rafael · Post by **rafael** » 05 Aug 2005, 13:40

guest wrote:I can relate to this problem a little,
When I am parked on my friends steep driveway and start the car to leave, the shift from Park to Drive requires a LOT of strength to execute (Almost forcing it). The first time I visited with my Volvo I almost gave up trying to leave thinking that there was something wrong with the car. Now I have accepted this behavior as something normal when it is parked on a slopping surface. I live in the Texas Plains thus there are not many slopes that I park my car on so I rarely experience this otherwise.

Why don't use use the hand brake when you are in a slopping surface?.

Post by **matthew1** » 05 Aug 2005, 14:32

Apply foot brake.
Shift to N.
Apply handbrake.
Shift to P.
Turn off car.

That's how I keep the car from resting "on" the park gear. I live in Seattle, and hills are everywhere, and this may prolong the life of my transmission so I do it. Plus I don't have to manhandle my Volvo into Drive.

patsaison · Post by **patsaison** » 12 Jan 2015, 11:49

It seems this is a very common problem with Volvo's although dealers like to pretend it is the first time they have heard of it, so they can diagnose it and charge you more.

I diagnosed it myself on the internet, and figured if I just tell the dealer what to replace, it would be more cost effective. Well......

Just had my 98 V90 transmission park lock micro-switch replaced by Volvo dealer in Westport, CT.

Ouch! They charged me $340; they insisted it was a 2 1/2 hour job (@$120 per hour), when a guide I found on how to do the job on the forum said it take 1 1/2 hours. I mentioned the steps were simple, as indicated in the guide. They were adamant.

I would have done it myself, but I did not have a soldering gun. I figured, the job was so simple, how could it take more than 1 hour for a professional? Big mistake. They gouge you when they can.