Volvo 850 manual shifter problem

Supergrunged · Post by **Supergrunged** » 17 Jul 2012, 12:27

So to start things off, new to this forum, but has a VERY VALUABLE RESOURCE! Thanks to all that contribute!

Where I begin, is well, seems like something odd to me, but I have no ideas the name for this part, as transmissions are somewhat new to me, yet, this is the third manual transmission Volvo I've owned. It's a 1994 850 base model, non turbo, and the problem I'm having is finding the gears. It looks under the shift knob, there's a ball type joint with grooves, almost seems as if there's built up broken plastic in it. I know the gears are fine, as well as the clutch, it just takes some time finding 2nd gear right now, as if grooves somehow broke. Any suggestions on where to begin to find this sort of part?

I've done some research, but it seems this is an odd question, I'll see about posting some pictures later.

Post by **jimmy57** » 17 Jul 2012, 14:22

Under the shifter are two cables. One is directly connected to bottom of leaver and the other has a linkage that changes the direction of the gear lever moving left to right into fore aft motion for that cable via a link and lever.
The best way to diagnose is to remove air cleaner box so you can see and touch the levers on top of transmission you will find there. There is one with a more beefy lever with odd shape and cable attaches from behind. The other is a simple lever with the cable bending around to attach and move that lever left-right.
Have some one move the shifter fore-aft and grab the funky lever on gearbox. Feel if it moves firmly and you can't easily keep it from moving. Then have helper move shifter left-right in neutral gate and do the same feel test. If you can restrain a lever from moving as much by grabbing it (watch your fingers) then that one is broken or clip fell off. You can look to see if the cables are attached securely to their mounts on trans while you are doing the shifter motion test.
Report back what you find.

Supergrunged · Post by **Supergrunged** » 23 Jul 2012, 22:22

As it turns out, was the silliest problem ever! 30 minutes and some duct tape rectified it! I had lost 4th gear, and reverse as well the night before. Next morning, took it apart, as I've been skipping second gear this entire time.... Turned out one of the sleeves had come undone.... To find this, some of the cable was in fact showing, shoved the sleeve back in where it goes, tried the shifter, and it was finding all the gears..... To confirm this, took the sleeve back out, and well, not there.... Couldn't believe it was something so small! I will post pictures at some time on this, but I really do appreciate the help!

220 thousand miles on it, and I blew off steam, car is still fast as can be when shifted right. Everyone still says, "but it's a Volvo" :p