Need some advice please so thanks in advance for said advice. My 1995 855 automatic is acting up. Twice in as many days I was stopped at an intersection, proceeded to go, stepped on the gas, and the car barely moves forward. Had to give it much more gas than usual and it still drove pretty slowly. Both times I was close to home and made it. I had been driving about 30 minutes each time so the tranny was warmed up.
Some history: Mileage at 190K, tranny flushed every 50K, I come to a complete stop going from R to D and visa-versa, I drive smoothly, and the fluid level is correct and red.
Is this the torque converter? Do I need a new tranny? Cost?
Thanks,
Dukester

It finally threw the code 313 in A1 which indicates a bad PNP switch. The car was going into the Limp Home mode to protect the transmission. Had the Volvo dealership replace the bad switch for $420 and all's well now. I flushed the tranny and am now running Mobile 1 full syn ATF.
Thanks all for your replies.
Dukester

Fred flintstone got around this problem by cutting holes in the floorboards. Can't really rebuild these trannys but new is about 4k plus 1k install or you can roll the dice on a used one. If it's not the winter mode you might still luck out and just have a solonoid problem or a pnp problem it something else sub 2k to get fixed. Your up arrow should be flashing.

Don't freak out yet. The automatic used in the 850s is supposedly a pretty hearty gearbox.

Could you actually feel shifts as it accelerated slow?

I wonder if it is in "winter" mode which locks the transmission into 3rd gear.
You will get very slow acceleration when in winter mode.

How does it shift into reverse and the other gears?
Does it feel normal or does it "bang" into gear?

Is the CEL illuminated?

Could you actually feel shifts as it accelerated slow? NO.
I wonder if it is in "winter" mode which locks the transmission into 3rd gear. WASN'T
How does it shift into reverse and the other gears? SLIGHT BANG INTO R.
Is the CEL illuminated? YES. WILL READ THE CODES THIS WEEKEND.

The following day when the tranny was cold it shifted normally.
Thanks for your questions!
Dukester

Your symptoms sound an awful lot like what I was going through with my S40 last year.
I was convinced it was a transmission issue, but in the end, it turned out to be a communication problem between the TCM (transmission control module) and the car's main computer.

Here is my thread from last year. Maybe it'll give you some insight.

https://www.brickboard.com/AWD/index.htm?id=1614896&show_all=1

Edit:

For what it's worth, when I was going through my tribulations, I was told that the transmission defaults to and stays in 3rd gear when it senses problems. The reason is to keep it from self-destructing until repairs are done.

Depending on where you live, labor to R&R the trans is $800-$1,000. A rebuild trans is very expensive. What kind of ATF are you using? You might want to try mobile 1 synthetic ATF or Valvoline Longlife ATF with the red stripe.

--
Keeping it running is better than buying new

Been using Valvoline Max Life Dex-Merc ATF but I'll try Mobile 1 synthetic ATF.
Thanks,
Dukester

I would try a thorough manual flush first using the cheapest fluid you can find then refill with the Mobil 1 synthetic. Sometimes flushing can do wonders!

I will!
Thanks,
Dukester