Hi all,
I drove my daughter's '95 850 today and after starting up, I shifted to Drive and proceeded down my long driveway (downhill). It was a nice day - about 55 degrees. Right away the arrow was flashing - the one that indicates when you're not in Drive but instead you're in "3" or "L". I tried shifting to both of the others and then back to Drive, but the arrow still flashed. When I went out onto the street, the acceleration was SO slow I didn't know if I would get to my destination. It felt like I was trying to drive uphill in fourth gear. The Check Engine light is on as well, and when I asked her about that, she said it always goes on in the cold weather and it's because of a problem with Winter Mode. Hitting that button near the shift lever does not help to take the car out of winter mode. She needs a sticker and the mechanic said the car won't pass with the Check Engine light on. Any suggestions?

Thank you for your perfect diagnosis! You were right - it was the PNP switch, which has now been fixed and the car starts right up, runs great, backup lights work and we were even able to get a sticker! I can't believe how long we just lived with the problem, not to mention what damage we could have caused to the transmission. I should have written long ago! Thanks again!

That flashing arrow is a transmission error, not Winter mode which is a steady arrow. Flashing means there is a problem and the computer will let you drive in "limp home mode". It is not intended for normal use.

You could check the codes in the A-1 port. But you probably have a failed PNP switch and cooked tranny fluid by now.

Using W mode is only for emergency take off on ice, not for any other time. Use "S" around town and "E" for the highway, "S" gives you higher rpms before shifting which helps keep the valves clean.

Klaus
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Proud owner of a 220S. If I had more room, I would have more Volvos.

Check the tranny fluid. If it's a normal color make sure it's not under or over filled. If it looks burned replace it but don't expect any dramatic improvements. 95's, mine include, seem to be prone to this problem. But mine only slips when it gets hot, like after climbing a long hill and coming to a stop. It will start out as if in the winter mode for the first few seconds and then suddenly shift down to low and then behave normally. Tell your daughter NEVER to use the "sport" mode and start changing the fluid every five thousand miles. But also start saving for a new tranny. Just for fun try rowing the shifter back and forth ten times to help clean the PNP contacts.

After trying rowing the transmision shifter back and forth, if you still have the problem, take it to the dealer. A common problem in addition to the PNP switch is the transmission ground strap. The winter switch starts you out in 2nd gear......

You might also try disconnecting the battery overnight and see what happens in the morning.