Volvo AWD Forum

INDEX FOR 10/2025(CURRENT) INDEX FOR 6/1998

[<<]  [>>]


THREADED THREADED EXPANDED FLAT PRINT ALL
MESSAGES IN THIS THREAD




  REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE Replies to this message will be emailed.    PRINT   SAVE 

Question about a flashing up arrow

posted by  Don Foster on  Mon May 30 05:15 CST 2005
Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
last visit: Sun Oct 5 11:53 CST 2014
[RELATED]

This morning I started and moved my '94 850 (a/t, non turbo) for the first time in several months. This is the first and only FWD drive Volvo I have among my collection of 240s, 740s, and two rusty ES's.

Reverse works fine, but forward gears are very lazy and the orange up arrow is flashing. The owner's manual says this indicates a problem in the tranny but offers no other clues.

I only moved the car around the driveway -- no street driving.

Anybody else experienced this? Am I in for a big project or is it as simple as resoldering relay somewhere?

Any/all advice welcome.

--
Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE Replies to this message will be emailed.    PRINT   SAVE 

    Question about a flashing up arrow

    posted by  KlausC on  Tue May 31 08:27 CST 2005
    Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
    last visit: Fri Oct 24 10:15 CST 2014
    [RELATED]

    Don,
    Welcome to the 850 club! Check for diagnostic codes first. Then flush the tranny. Then suspect the PNP switch. The nice thing about 94-95 850s is the ability to check your own codes.
    Usually when the PNP switch fails, the backup lights don't work or the shift interlock fails to let you get out of park. You can also try to row the shifter from P to L about 20 times to remove some crud. When the PNP really goes out, you will not be able to start the car.

    Klaus
    --
    98 V70Rawd(108Kmi), 95 854T(88K mi), 75 164E(173K mi)








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE Replies to this message will be emailed.    PRINT   SAVE 

    Question about a flashing up arrow

    posted by  tonyg on  Mon May 30 06:02 CST 2005
    Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
    last visit: Fri Aug 22 10:44 CST 2014
    [RELATED]

    Wow, a question from the infamous Don Foster! For those that don't know, Don has been hanging around the RWD forum, giving answers since almost the begining of brickboard!(many many years). To answer your question Don, the 850's are famous for failed PNP switches. With your expertise, you can replace it yourself. This is likely the cause of your problem.
    --
    '82 240DL Stock / Masters Class, '94 850 GLT Fully Loaded / Daily Driver, CVC / VCOA Member http://www.capcan.com/tonyg.htm








    •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE Replies to this message will be emailed.    PRINT   SAVE 

      Question about a flashing up arrow

      posted by  Don Foster on  Mon May 30 06:14 CST 2005
      Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
      last visit: Sun Oct 5 11:53 CST 2014
      [RELATED]

      Tony, many thanks. What the &%#* is a PNP switch? I don't recall anything like a PNP switch on a 240.....

      I found reference to the PNP as I Goggled around the Internet. Is a PNP switch the opposite polarity from an NPN switch?

      --
      Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)








      •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

        Question about a flashing up arrow

        posted by  someone claiming to be rich on  Mon May 30 06:41 CST 2005 [RELATED]

        Don,
        Great to hear that you are still out there! I spend most of my Brickboard time on this forum since my wife bought her 95 850 wagon several years back.
        Sure sounds like the PNP switch, the 95 had those symptoms which did turn out to be the switch. Check out Volvospeed Bay 13.
        Cheers!
        Rich in Alberta(not oil rich tho`!!)








        •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE Replies to this message will be emailed.    PRINT   SAVE 

          Question about a flashing up arrow

          posted by  Don Foster on  Mon May 30 08:20 CST 2005
          Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
          last visit: Sun Oct 5 11:53 CST 2014
          [RELATED]

          Rich, thanks for the suggestion. Bay 13 looks like a good resource. Since this 850 has been untouched for months, I suspect the switch contacts are tarnished. Hence, I might try the "ratchet cleaning."

          Questions: Will spray contact cleaner work in this switch? Is it posible to even get inside the switch? Can the switch be disassembled, cleaned, reassembled? Will a coating of silicone grease over the contacts hurt it?

          Did you replace your defective switch?

          --
          Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)








          •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE Replies to this message will be emailed.    PRINT   SAVE 

            Question about a flashing up arrow

            posted by  dick on  Mon May 30 10:09 CST 2005
            Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
            last visit: Sun Aug 3 15:24 CST 2014
            [RELATED]

            Don:
            Not going to answer your question, but I too have gone over to the dark side with my first FWD Volvo, an 855 T ('94) and am having fun learing . Between this and Bay 13 plus a little help from VADIS, life is good. Things are much easier to work on than a lot of the RWD, for instance the heater core is a 30 minute walk in the park. Of course there are some other problems.

            Cheers and have fun, am sure your wife will understand-------

            dick







<< < > >>



©Jarrod Stenberg 1997-2022. All material except where indicated.


All participants agree to these terms.

Brickboard.com is not affiliated with nor sponsored by AB Volvo, Volvo Car Corporation, Volvo Cars of North America, Inc. or Ford Motor Company. Brickboard.com is a Volvo owner/enthusiast site, similar to a club, and does not intend to pose as an official Volvo site. The official Volvo site can be found here.