I have a '95 850 w/ an intermittant transmission problem. When it gets hot after doing some freeway driving it will noticably seem to stick when downshifting through the gears coming to a stop. When starting up after this happens it seems to be in the "winter mode" for a few seconds. The car moves very slowly then suddenly drops into normal low gear with a loud thud and therafter shifts normally. This seems to happen for a few stops then goes away. New fluid makes no improvement. No error lights displayed. The local independent service garage did a tranny fault analysis and found a "winter mode reading". This was cleared but made no difference. The "winter mode" switch light never comes on or blinks whenever this happens. I have tried cycling the winter mode switch on and off when I anticipate the problem will occur and also tried moving the lever each way out of "D" with no improvement. Is there any type of winter mode module that can be replaced or is it time for another tranny? Also what other transmission years will work in my '95?

How many miles are on it? Have you tried a tranny flush? It can be as simple as the valve body sticking due to crud buildup in the passages. The switch on the console just changes the setting in the TCM under the hood, in the box with the ECU, nothing in the tranny. It wasn't showing any fault codes in the DTC box under the hood? If not try a fluid change (flush) and see if that clears it up.



Mike
'95 850T

Thanks for the reply. The car has 94k miles but I have had the problem for a little over a year. Seems to get worse in the summer when the temps are higher here in Southern California. Fluid replacement was tried w/o help. The reason I suspect the winter mode is because when it occurs the car initially accelerates the same as when the winter mode is purposely selected. After 1-4 seconds it suddenly then slams into first gear and shifts normally. Your valve theory seems possible. Is there any Volvo approved additive that you know of that may help? Do you have any idea which year tranmissions will fit?

I doubt you need a new tranny, but if you do, a 1997 is your best bet. Try pulling the mode switch and disabling the winter wire. If hot weather causes all of this, think fried computer. Make sure air flows over the ECM.
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95 854T, 88 780, 88 245, 01 A4 Audi