Reverse Gear 850 wagon

Arielflip · Post by **Arielflip** » 13 Apr 2010, 16:22

I went camping last weekend and only drove my car 100 yards to the boat slip twice. When we packed up to leave, the reverse gear did not engage. The engine idled down as if to change gears but I had no reverse. ALl other gears worked. Strange! Well, I was able to drive car out and home and when I got home the reversed worked.

Any Ideas?

FCPEURO · Post by **FCPEURO** » 13 Apr 2010, 17:46

Have you checked to see if the transmission computer has any codes? What year is your 850?

Post by **jblackburn** » 13 Apr 2010, 20:20

I think it could be a PNP switch issue. But I would pull out the yellow transmission stick (near the battery, kinda hidden under pipes on mine) and look at the color of the transmission fluid. If it's anything but a bright, clear red it needs to be flushed/changed.

Try to find a big hill and try to back up it. Hopefully the transmission isn't slipping.

Post by **wheelsup** » 13 Apr 2010, 20:41

The good news is reverse worked so hopefully it's not a mechanical issue.

Arielflip · Post by **Arielflip** » 14 Apr 2010, 06:47

Yes, I have codes and I checked the fluid! The fluid is claer and at the right level! PNP Switch issue? WHat and where is that?

Post by **jblackburn** » 14 Apr 2010, 14:09

Codes are good! (for us to help anyway, not so much for you having them). What codes did you pull?

The PNP (park-neutral-position) switch is under the console of the car, and helps tell the TCU what position the gear shifter is in. Sometimes it can be made to stop acting up by ratcheting the shifter quickly back and forth between P and L (engine off) 20 times or so. If that works, the switch will need to eventually need to be replaced.