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What went wrong 850 1997

posted by  someone claiming to be claim to be on  Fri Aug 23 22:12 CST 2002 [RELATED]

This afternoon, after stopping at the hardware store, I got into my 850 GLT in the parking lot. As soon as the engine fired, the car raced forward, tires sqeeling, without my applying pressure to the accelerator. After about 50 feet I brought the car to a stop. At this point I was shaking very badly upon realizing someone in the parking lot could have been killed. Does anyone have any idea what might have happened? I talked to the service director at Jim Fisher Volvo in Portland and he said he was not aware of an 850 ever bolting like this. No check engine lights came on after the incident. There have been no previous engine problems (car has 58,000 miles). I did notice my cruise control switch was in the ON position. Also, prior to starting the car, I did release the unlock the door lock switch to open the tailgate door. I cautiously started/stopped the car a number of times tonight after the incident with no further problems.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated. Thanks.







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    What went wrong 850 1997

    posted by  someone claiming to be Matthew de Seattle on  Tue Aug 27 13:38 CST 2002 [RELATED]

    "...As soon as the engine fired, the car raced forward, tires sqeeling..."

    In Park? Or did you shift to D? Or did the 850 shift, then accelerate, on its own?

    You left out important details.


    Confused,
    M d S








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      What went wrong 850 1997

      posted by  someone claiming to be Gord on  Tue Aug 27 17:15 CST 2002 [RELATED]

      The car was parked. Engine off. The event happened after I started it and put the vehicle into drive. The acceleration happened on its own. The same feeling as turning on cruise control and the vehicle takes off.
      Make sense?







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    What went wrong 850 1997

    posted by  russb on  Sun Aug 25 07:06 CST 2002
    Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
    last visit: Fri Dec 15 10:05 CST 2000
    [RELATED]

    First and foremost, make sure your car is in park or the clutch is depressed when starting up. Cars can be designed with safety in mind, but it's the ultimate respnsibility of the driver to make the car safe. Be careful!

    Secondly, the car SHOULD NOT fire up when that advice is heeded, but if it does, there is a malfunction/misalignment problem with the PNP switch (auto tranny) or the clutch safety switch (manual)

    These can be checked by trying to start the car in drive and wiggling the gear selector (auto), or with clutch engaged (manual) Make sure your in a safe place, of course. Get your car checked/fixed ASAP. If an accident happens because of this, it WILL be your fault because you know there is a problem with your car.

    --
    RussB in Ct. - '96 855T- '91 940T - '93 850GLT (R.I.P. 6-16-02)








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      What went wrong 850 1997

      posted by  someone claiming to be claim to be on  Sun Aug 25 11:18 CST 2002 [RELATED]

      Thanks for the suggestion. My car is an automatic. How might the car's behavior be related to a failure of the PNP switch?








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      What went wrong 850 1997

      posted by  someone claiming to be Hank on  Sun Aug 25 09:55 CST 2002 [RELATED]

      And if your foot is on the brake pedal where it should be the car is going nowhere. Ever seen a muscle car do a burnout? That's often with crummy drum brakes holding back a car with 3-400 horsepower.








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    What went wrong 850 1995

    posted by  steve s on  Sun Aug 25 02:08 CST 2002
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    last visit: Thu Mar 10 02:18 CST 2011
    [RELATED]

    the volvo 850 had quite a bit of a scare with this particular problem overseas...i haven't heard it here in the u.s., but it caused the 850 sale to become a bit stagnant because it happened quite a bit








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      What went wrong 850 1995

      posted by  someone claiming to be gazzer on  Sun Aug 25 18:16 CST 2002 [RELATED]

      BULLSH-T!!








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    What went wrong 850 1997

    posted by  someone claiming to be Hank on  Sat Aug 24 11:24 CST 2002 [RELATED]

    These kind of claims almost put Audi out of business in this country. It's my understanding that the studies concluded that it was pilot error in most if not all cases. Regardless, you should always start a car with your foot on the brake pedal with the tranny in park or the clutch pedal depressed.








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    ...or maybe throttle linkage 850 1997

    posted by  davidm on  Sat Aug 24 08:22 CST 2002
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    The likely culprit would be an accelerator pedal or linkage stuck in a depressed position. Beside the carpeting possibility described in the previous post, one might consider binding of the accelerator cable or stuck throttle linkage under the hood. Might be time to clean the throttle body, and inspect / lube acclerator linkage components.
    --
    David (98 S70 T5SE Black, misc mods (mostly lighting), red calipers) (92 940GLE)








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    Carpeting or your shoe? 850 1997

    posted by  someone claiming to be Glen on  Sat Aug 24 07:03 CST 2002 [RELATED]

    It's more likely than not that something simply got stuck on top of your gas pedal. Either your carpeted floor mat or even your shoe (or boot) getting accidentally stuck on top of the gas pedal w/o your realizing it is far more likely than any real mechanical or electrical failure. I have yet to see or read of any real mechanical or electrical problem that's ever caused that to happen BUT in some cars, I've also had similar problems with my large work boots around the gas pedal if I'm not carefull.
    Take a good look around the gas pedal area and make sure that no carpeting is loose in that area, especially the floor carpeting.







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