Here are the symptoms...
1. initially the car would not start. New battery and new starter put in.
2. still would not start. i checked the ignition switch by installing a known good one from another 850. still did not start.
3. at this point i had to resort to hot wiring the car to start it (like a thief)
4. next i started playing with the "J" relays above the fuse box. i.e. taking them out and putting them back in. miraculously, this allowed me to start the car. i'm happy.
5. on cold days or after the car sits for a day, it does not shift out to first gear. i can rev it up to 5000 on first. this scares me a little so i manually move the shifter to 3rd then back to "D". Miraculously, this fixes the shifting problem! the car shifts like a champ.
6. Unfortunately, after turning the car off. it won't start again. i have to resort to either hot wiring the starter OR removing the "J" relays and putting them back in again.

I strongly suspect the two issues (no start and no shift) are related as well as the "J" relays. I am getting frustrated with the problem. Is there anyone out there who has fixed this? help! all help and suggestions are welcome.

rodsob