850 GLT Automatic Transmission shifting very hard

Hello there,

I am considering buying an 1996 Volvo 850 GLT with an automatic trans.
Car has about 112000 miles on it and is really in excellent condition.
When I test drove it I recognized that the auto trans is shifting gears
very hard, sometimes like hammering them.

Can anybody tell me what the reason behind this hard shiffting could
be? Is this a sign that the trans is going on its last couple of
rounds? I read some posts that indicate that a new trans runs roughly
2500 USD... a lot to risk on a nine year old car...
Thanks for you help and time!
T

 

Is the arrow light flashing? If not, does it light up when you shift
into 3 or L or use winter mode? It sound like there's some transmission
problem (electrical or mechanical) that the transmission computer is
compensating for by using an emergency program. One of the "features"
of the emergency programs is shifting gets harder, as the transmission
is always shifted like it is at full throttle. Unfortunately you need a
Volvo Scan Tool or other high end scan tool to read any codes related to
this. If this is not available to you, I'd give this car a pass, as
fixing it may require as much as a new transmission. (It may be much
simpler (cheaper), but then you'd think they'd fix it before selling
it.)

--
Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)

 

Mine was doing a hard downshift when braking and after being warmed up.

It was diagnosed as needing to be replaced. I guess Volvo only sells the
PNP switch (might be your problem) and a couple of solenoids. I was
quoted $1400 installed on a 95 w/ 76K on it.

 

My 94, in sport mode, shifts very quickly, and has done so since the
beginning. I consider this an advantage for two reasons:
1. Less energy is wasted in slipping the clutches for the sake of
smoothness. The energy in the engine/fywheel goes to the wheels, not
into heating the transmission fluid.
2. Less wear, for the same reason. The slower it engages the next
gear, the more clutch pack wear there is. After 200K miles, I haven't
had any tranmismission troubles at all.

After 10 years in this car, current Volvo auto transmissions feel
extremely sluggish when shifting.


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If the car is really nice otherwise, I'd consider taking it to a mechanic
for inspection, and then maybe paying for a trans flush and see how it
shifts afterwards. It may just need new fluid (hopefully). If it is still
rough, then the mechanic may have an idea, but it could be a deal breaker if
the trans is going bad.

Jeff
95 855 GLT 161,000 miles (smooth, original trans - fluid reg. flushed)