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It looks like the transmission on my 96 850 wagon failed after 130,000 miles. After a two-day, 900 mile drive from Dallas, TX to Breckenridge, CO, the transmission started acting up on the last 10 miles. Here are the symptoms (they are the same with car cold or hot):
- when sitting at a traffic light, the car kind of yanks 2-3 times per minute (as in clutch kicking in and out)
- when speeding up (gently), the RPMs jump from 2000 to 2200 to 2500 to 2800 before it upshifts (not surea bout exact numbers) - it used to go gradually up
- when cruising at about 45mph (2000 rpm), the engine races up and down about 200rpm
- it shifts up and down through all speeds; the symptoms are the same with or without overdrive.
- there is enough fluid; it smells and feels OK. Maybe a little bit burned but nowhere near the black mess I've seen with other transmissions.
- I changed the fluid about a month ago.
I checked other posts and it does not sound like a PNP switch. I do not have flashing arrow nor the econo/sport mode light flashes. I cannot read the codes being up in the mountains with no tools. I know/feel the transmission is hosed. I do not believe the recent fluid change caused it (please let's not start another thread on it). I did turn off the overdrive climbing up and down the mountains (I take this trip almost yearly).
However, my dilemma is what to do now. I am about a 1000 miles from home and I see my options as:
A. pay $$$ to get the car towed to Denver, CO; have transmission repaired/rebuilt; get home somehow and return for the car some two weeks later
B. drive/limp to Denver (it is about 100 miles over pretty steep climb up and down on I-70). Then do the same as in A.
C. drive all the way home. Hope the transmission lasts the whole trip.
I am hoping for option C but if there is a high chance that I get stranded with fried transmission and immobile car, I can get talked out of it. I have three days to decide.
What would you recommend? How gradual is the transmission decline? I have never had auto transmission failed so I do not know if it will last 10 or 1000 miles. If I decide to risk it, how should I drive (using overdrive or not; take frequent stops...)?
Thank you for your advice,
Peter
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I got home safe driving exactly 1000 miles. The transmission performed great. When I started, it experienced the symptoms described above but over 55mph, it operated as smoothly as ever. During the two day drive, it worked fine most of the time. I did sense some hesitation/jumping RPMs on two (short) occasions but only when driving slowly (in a traffic jam).
The problem is intermittent and rare. I will replace the TPS but now I can do it in my own garage.
Thanks to the great responses and support; this board is a wonderful resource.
Peter
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Sorry to hear things aren't going well with your tranny, I understand
your dilemma because I used to be caught in a identical situation with
my 93 and here's what I did: I you're going with option C, I'd strongly
recommend using a tranny conditionner like Dr.Detroit or something
similar, 1 quart overfill of ATF, not using the overdrive at all,
accelerate & drive VERY VERY smoothly at constant speed with minimum
stops for minimum gears shifting and have your fingers crossed.
--
Ken
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You may be experiencing what I experienced, especially when it was cold out. Rough and unpredictable up and down shifts, the kind that kick you in the seat of the pants every now and then. Mine would not stay in overdrive when going up a slight grade. Turns out it was the throttle position switch, a potentiometer that tells the tranny how fast the engine is going so it can coordinate the proper gear. I would have that checked out. Also, I would think about a tranny flush if you have not done so in the last 30,000 to 50,000 miles. My 95 850 with 106,000 on it is in the shop today haveing that TPS replaced.
On my last long trip I just drove slower, and drove in three going up hills, and would put it in D going down. I made it eventually. I think these tranny's are more robust than we think.
Bob Watson
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Thanks to everyone that responded so far, I do appreciate your advice/suggestions.
I was actually thinking about (hoping for) some electronics-related problems (these things wake me up a few times per night). The fluid is much closer to good condition than to burnt condition. I did not think about the TPS and it makes perfect sense. I thought that a problem with electronics would cause the Check Engine light to go off but faulty TPS may not.
Is the TPS fault a part failure (needing replacement) or is it related to the gunk inside? I did clean the TPS on my 89 740 and it was gunk-related (it helped some idle-related problems). If I could help the symptoms at least temporarily with a can of carburator cleaner, I may try it.
I planned on leaving on Saturday but I may try to leave on Friday and have the car checked and TPS replaced at a Volvo dealer in Denver (provided they can do it in a day).
Thanks again for your advice and I'll keep you updated on this story.
Peter
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A thousand miles is a far way to gamble when a transmission is on its way out. I can't speak for a Volvo, but with past transmission experience i have noticed that if the fluid is not burnt and up to proper level, little wear occurs at highway mileage. The deterioration of a transmision quickly appears more noticeably with city driving. However to tell you to drive 1000 miles is out of place. It's up to you to calculate and to feel how quickly your transmission is reaching the end of its life. If all you are feeling is a glitch that stays constant, chances are that you won't have problems. You would also have to face a stress factor for a whole duration of 1000 miles wondering if you'll be stranded at the wrong place. Let us know how it goes.
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posted by
someone claiming to be 296850s
on
Mon Mar 1 14:56 CST 2004 [ RELATED]
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Do you have your defroster or A/C on I have noticed an RPM change when the A/C cycled because of lack of freon.
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posted by
someone claiming to be UrsaTbear
on
Thu Mar 4 06:13 CST 2004 [ RELATED]
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If it's not electronic, it's mechanical, if it's mechanical it's terminal or dead, so, no further damage will be done, [get a second opinion on this, my mechanic does not repair tranmissions, replaces only, but, if you decide to try the trip home, do a trans flush first, check it every fuel up, 300 miles or so, good luck.
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