I have an 850 R Wagon 1996 and the transmission suddenly stopped working. and help with diagnosis?
Thanks

Christopher Virgilthevolvo '56 444, '72 1800ES, '73 1800ES, '01 V70

is there any fluid in the tranny? Otherwise, I think Klaus had a good suggestion, have either driveshaft been recently replaced?

RRRRRRReally expensive. lol. When you say just stopped working what exactly happened. How is the fluid level. what codes show up.

okay, here's the deal. The car broke when the upper radiator inlet broke at the upper radiator hose. I thought the block froze (Buffalo NY) but it was the radiator. So I had it flat bedded to a radiator shop. Drive couldn't get it off the flatbed and then it wouldn't "Drive" into the bay. Shop man said the fluid was like coke. Driver had the key but I wasn't there when he picked it up... could he have damaged it ??????
Thoughts?
Christopher

if the transmission failure light on? If so, there will be codes to let you know whats wrong.

Did you swap any axles lately? If one comes loose at the tranny end, you will loose all propulsion. The differential will try to give the disconnected axle all of the power.

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My name is Klaus and I am a V♂lv♂holic

What about the "PNP" switch?

Klaus,
It has been a while but that happens in Buffalo when a winter problem has to wait for the thaw. So Here I am but now I have the car home and the problems are easier defined. I replaced the radiator so I can now start the car and test everything. On jack stands the wheels will turn when put into gear. But it looks like they turn forward direction no matter if in "R" or not. They will speed up in "D" and feel like it shifts. Drop the car and it only creeps forward regardless of selector. It will roll ( when pushed) in either direction and will hold in "Park". When placing the selector into "P" there is some sound and it seems like it is needing to find the pin like a rattle of a pin finding the spot on a wheel to slide into.. I just started it and checked a few things.
Starts fine and will only crank in "P" or "N".
regardless of selector, it wants to creep forward. Even after a few tries this is true even in "P" and will crank a little slow when this happens. What is missing is the moment when the gear is selected, that the idle will drop since it is in gear and you introduce a "load".
The backup lights work in "R"
I don't have a "code Reader" but might be able to get one from a friend.

Thoughts? Tests?

Thanks

Christopher

The slow movement could be that the tranny is in limp home mode (3rd gear). Check the ATF level and color of fluid.
The starter can only be engaged when the selector is in "P" or "N". The wheels should not move. The tranny fluid pump is working when the engine is started, but not to the point that the wheels get driven.

There is more sluething to be done here.
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My back feels better when I sit in a Volvo seat

Just trying to place this in the right order...
The "PNP" switch is on the transmission where the shift cable connects to the trnny. It has wires and is what tells the tranny which gear you select with the cable and shifter.
Thoughts?
Thanks

Correct about the PNP switch. Usually, when the PNP switch fails, the yellow upshift light on the instrument cluster will not only light up, but will start blinking. "rowing" the shifter from R to L about 20 times gives a temporary reprieve to the error.

The wheels turning slowly when airborne and in neutral could be just the result of ATF pushing the gears/torque converter, but that is a long shot.

Is the "W" button engaged? That should light up the yellow shift arrow, not blinking and force the tranny to start in 3rd gear also. Still, it would be 'drivable'.

A loose axle is still the best bet. You should not be able to see any splines at the tranny case on either side.

Get the codes read!
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My back feels better when I sit in a Volvo seat

Klaus,

Nope,

It isn't the PNP switch. I bought a new one and installed it. The reverse lights work when in "R" but there is just nothing at all when there. No drop of RPM when loaded. Just nothing. he rest of the gears seem to operate and I'll test drive tomorrow but.... any other thoughts?

Thanks

Christopher

From an earlier post, you said the shop person said the 'Fluid was like coke'. Was he refering to the radiator or the tranny? If he said the ATF was black, then the tranny is toast.

Because you can drive normally in D, but not in R, I suspect that the bands inside the tranny are shot for R. Winter weather is hard on automatics when the ATF is cold, having low levels of ATF make things worse and create more wear. And true internal failure usually starts with Reverse. Also, failure of Reverse gear, by itself, will not generate a code.

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My back feels better when I sit in a Volvo seat

Sorry for delay.
I drove the car around without any reverse. Rolled forward fine and so I went around the block and then shifted to see where it worked best. Reverse was still going forward and there is no "moment" when reverse works. Fluid is full now (was low). It drove well and shifted internally in the correct selector location (except "R") Haven't tried the "W" way yet but did order a PNP switch for $75. I'll put it in and see what happens. It seems that it is external selection that is not working.

I'll get the part and put it in this weekend and reply here.

THanks!