My 2007 wagon is having a problem since I let my brother use it for a couple of years. If I slow down and take my foot off the gas and then give it gas to get going again, the car seems like it was in Neutral and it hesitates a few seconds while getting back into gear, and sometimes seems to have a burst of energy. At first I thought it was a transmission problem, but could it be something else? Someone mentioned "linkage" to me. Is that an easy thing to diagnose and fix? I intend to sell the car within the year, and I would like it to run the way it should. Thanks!

BTW - if you decide to not put any money into the car, take it to a small used car lot that has some Volvos and other foreign cars for sale,

If the car is clean and not too shabby - they may make you an offer that is acceptable after you know where the car is as far as condition.

Isabel had air conditioning that did not work - a month later I got a call from Nantucket Island from the guy who purchased the car from a small used car lot near my home.

Imagine buying Volvo's fastest car to live on an island that has a maximum speed limit of 35 MPH!

Hi Jim,

Those island cars go on a ferry to zoom around with everyone on the mainland.

I wonder why your same post is up there twice?

Happy new year, Bill

Yes, Bill my post is on twice I goofed backing up to the list of posts and made the mistake.

I swear that it is not oldtimers disease.

BTW - if you decide to not put any money into the car, take it to a small used car lot that has some Volvos and other foreign cars for sale,

If the car is clean and not too shabby - they may make you an offer that is acceptable after you know where the car is as far as condition.

Isabel had air conditioning that did not work - a month later I got a call from Nantucket Island from the guy who purchased the car from a small used car lot near my home.

Imagine buying Volvo's fastest car to live on an island that has a maximum speed limit of 35 MPH!

Hi,

I think your comments on the 850’s speed on an island with a maximum 35 mph was interesting information. I imagine most islands are limited as well but maybe not that low.
Maybe he will safe on it if it was not worth fixing it up.

My wife recently read that a California patrol officer clocked a Lamborghini on his radar @ 152 mph.
I have often wondered where does anyone drive those exotic cars.
I will have to say that maybe there’s areas out WEST that are still a little on the wild side.

One would think it takes more than a quarter mile to get it up to that speed, like out in the desert areas.
YET, populated enough to warrant a patrol officer?

Well, It all happened right in Santa Barbara county on the curvy highway of 154.
The officer advised him that 154 Is a sign stating it route and was not the speed limit of 55.
):-)

Their LIDARS apparently have read out in three digits.
You bet there is a space on the ticket when that he got along with some rides to a possible 90 day confinement and $ 1,000 fine minimum, Under Reckless Driving.
I have seen kids driving these cars.
I Bet DADDY Big DOLLARS got notified or was it DADDY himself?

Phil

Take your car to a dealer - most, if not all dealers will troubleshoot your car for 1 hours labor. Get a firm cost estimate and a written list of problems and repair estimates.

Have your brother reimburse you for the testing.

Then you will know where the car is as far as condition.

See if it is worth fixing. Check the cars resale value on Kelly Blue Book, Or Edmonde, etc.

We had a lovely Fire Red '96 850 wagon that we loved - It was 6 years old when we bought if and 17 years old when we had it evaluated. It would cost as much to bring it up to snuff as it was worth in perfect condition. We had to let Isabel go!

Don't whip a dead horse - like I did several times!

Thank you! I took the car to my regular mechanic since he said he could check out the computer and see if any codes were suspicious, but none were. Since it's a closed system, he wouldn't even be able to change the transmission fluid if he thought that would help. He said the same as you - take it to a dealer and have them make a list of things they would do and how much it would cost. Unfortunately, we put on new tires, rear brakes and front struts before driving the car around to find out there might be a bigger and more expensive problem. I made an appointment with a dealer here in MA and will see what they suggest. The problem doesn't show up until the car has been driven 10-15 miles and gets warmed up. But if it costs $4-5k to fix or replace the transmission, we'll just sell it for parts. Too bad because it looks so good you'd never know it was 15 years old! Thanks for taking your time to give some good advice!

Hi,

While I agree with the other poster on the transmission fluid as it can be in needing of a change.
I don’t know what the recommended interval is, with new models as I’m a 240 man but it cannot hurt rule that in.
The throttle body is not a bad idea either.

Do you know if the brother takes care of things he owns or borrows? Transmissions are neglected quite often.
If the car has been missing “maintenance” at some high mileage intervals, it does affect the cleanliness of the precision valving inside.

Another thing to consider is the engine operation has to respond from an input from the driver.
The gas pedal is in constant use but only slightly less than the seats.
On the throttle body a switch or later cars they have a different version or method being used.
The switch on later cars is really like a volume control on earlier made amplifiers that you actually turned.
They would get worn and make scratching sounds out the speakers. This when being turned back and forth.
Guess what, the throttle gets rotated and that motion has to be detected.
Now, Within that idea, it’s definitely a wear item in the future of these cars at sometime.
Their Not too horribly expensive either, if purchased like a generic medicine, or hard to change out.
Most can be fairly simply to be made, from a manufacturers standpoint and they’re almost plug and play nowadays.

On todays cars the computers need smooth inputs and don’t understand a lot of anything in between.
It’s is because they work on the principles of finite steps. Things plus and minus that are out of its normal perimeter gets ignored.
What happens is it does nothing until it gets what it is looking for and then jumps to it.

I want to say the brother probably put his share of mileage on the car and he got use to it driving the way it does.
He might not be aware of the issue as you are so it’s good you are.
It’s NEW to you again, but in so, now a MORE used car.
I hope you expected some of this, as it comes with items that get returned.

Since you are on the BRICKBOARD, are you one that works on your cars or just don’t want to get blind sighted or duped into to many services that can be costly?

This site is a self service information forum or at least thought of that way.
Cars and patrons have been changing but basic needs are still nice to find.

I’m a 240 person but I’m not completely out in the cold with helping where I can.
I hope you post back what you find to help others.

Phil

Your car doesn’t have “linkage” like the older cars.
If the RPMs pick up but the car doesn’t accelerate then I would try replacing the transmission fluid.
If it’s a case of the engine RPMs not picking up when you press on the throttle then I would try cleaning the throttle body - it could just be sticking in the closed (idle) position.