hello-
today the 94 850 started flashing the up arrow in the dash on and off. it is shifting a little funny. i noticed before that sometimes it would shift into top gear late. i haven't had a chance to drive it since the trouble started (girlfriend's car) so as of right now i can't provide any more info but i don't think there's much else to say yet. suggestions?

did the flush yesterday with success. the fluid indeed was quite burnt smelling. took it for a spin and immediately could feel the difference. last reset the 3-2-3 code friday afternoon and hasn't reappeared since, hopefully that's the end of it!

I wouldn't consider this the end of it quite yet.

You're good for now, but you really should flush again in the spring once it gets warm again. Your new oil will get real dirty real fast as it will pick up all the stuff you were unable to get out the first time. Consider this one your 'cleaning' flush.

You might consider an AutoRx treatment a few hundred miles before you do the re-flush.

You didn't say what you used for the flush this time, but next time you really should consider using fully synthetic for the last couple of liters. Use whatever fluid you normally use for the actual flush part, but when you do the last 1 or 2 pump-outs use synthetic fluid so that it's left in the pan. Synthetic fluid can handle much more heat and cleans better as well.

Good luck!
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1998 V70 AWD->FWD->AWD Turbo 220k+

definitely not the end of it. arrow started blinking again this morning, shifts late, sometimes sort of hard (in 1st gear) and very poor power. i was encouraged because before, after re-setting the code, the blinking would start after about a day's worth of driving; this time it took a week but it's back...

Consider an AutoRx treatment with cheap fluid then another flush.

How many miles?

Hopefully it is just the solonoid. The 93's are known for weak trannies. The 94-95's less so. The best trannies are in the 96-97's 850's and the 98 V70s' (basically an 850).

odometer is broken, estimate between 170-180K for mileage. i will pick up that auto-rx stuff tomorrow. another flush, ugh...so expensive...but i suppose it's less expensive than a replacement transmission

You'll need to order the AutoRx online. Here is the URL:

http://auto-rx.com/index.html

Should take about 3 or 4 days. It is expensive, but it did a nice job cleaning my engine. Consider ordering 2 or more bottles for a discount. You can always use a bottle in your car's engine.

To save money use the cheapest fluid possible when doing the flush. The AutoRx can be added directly to the tranny now if it has room for the 6 oz.

Blinking arrow is limp home mode and 3rd gear only. You need to read the codes in A-1 to figure out what is wrong. If there are a lot of codes, clear them and see which ones come back.

Klaus
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Did you do your Random Act of Kindness today?

Great advice, and I'd also add that ANY transmission problems should immediately be followed by a fluid flush unless you're positive you have perfect fluid. Many people NEVER change the fluid (why would they really, it's not in the service schedule) and these transmissions NEED clean fluid. DEX-III is pretty cheap and you can do a flush with minimal tools and time - it should be automatic.

Of course, waiting for problems to surface is probably not the best approach either. Pre-emptive maintenance is always better. A 50k mile interval is probably not excessive for these cars. If you're towing I'd put it down to 30k miles.

Synthetic fluid is better for leaving in the transmission, but cheap fluid is good for a quick cleaning flush.

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1998 V70 AWD->FWD->AWD Turbo 220k+

so i cleared the code and moved the gear selector from P to L multiple times then took it for a spin. it seems to be driving fine, and the arrow is not blinking now. gonna have to keep an eye on it

it is reading 3-2-3, which is discouraging based on what i'm reading...

3-2-3 = no lockup for the torque converter, usually a dirty soleniod.

Check the fluid color, a flush might be needed. Teach your friend how to clear the code in the meantime. Rowing the shifter will not do any good, that is for a failing PNP.

Klaus
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Did you do your Random Act of Kindness today?

the color of the fluid was fine when she purchased it (early this summer-i made sure to check) and it is still nice and red, but i will do a flush anyway.

BTW it's easy to miss fluid that is severely degraded. The colour test is very hard unless you use something very very stark white to check it.

I like to wipe the dipstick with a piece of bright white and thick computer printer paper. It will more accurately show the colour of the fluid and sometimes little black flecks.

I bought my car thinking the trans fluid was fine also, but when I flushed it soon after I found the fluid was as BLACK AS BLACK CAN BE when I pumped it out of the trans. Sort of like the effect of multiple layers of saran wrap - one layer looks completely colourless and transparent, but if you fold it into a couple of layers it takes on an obvious colour (usually blue-ish?).

Anyway you might be surprised how crappy that fluid actually is once you get it out. I was appalled at the thought of running that black fluid through my transmission, and it looked fine when I wiped it off the dipstick. That's when I picked up the computer paper trick.

If you put the fluid in a small transparent bottle (glass jar, plastic water bottle, etc) and hold it up to the light it should look like brand new fluid and be red all the way through.

If the fluid has been in there for more than 50k miles I can guarantee it's used up.

Plus new fluid is pretty much the only way to clean up the malfunctioning solenoid (as diagnosed by KlausC). AutoRx (in the trans) would be a good thing to think about too. There are some write-ups about this on this board and others.


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1998 V70 AWD->FWD->AWD Turbo 220k+

thanks for the advice. i am going to flush the tranny on saturday. after clearing the code, no problems for a day, and then it reappeared the next day. cleared it last night, car OK today. so i'm thinking that a flush should cure what ails it. thanks guys