flashing up arrow on my 850 uk. read inside, please

  • Thread starter Thread starter colin
  • Start date Start date
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colin

hi

just noticed that my up arrow is flashing on the dash, i seem to have
no trouble with my auto box, but also the mode light is flashing. in
the centre console, i have heard that you can first of all clean the
switch, then if that does not work, replace it, how difficult to
clean/replace,

i used to be a mechanic, but a long time ago. so would like to have a
go, but also do i have to get rid of the error codes, as i have a 1996
850 and cannot reset from under the bonnet, or have the reset button
on the dash, ( as i am told some models/years have this) maybe could
build a obdII interface to reset the codes. my present job involves
electronics, but have seen no kits in the uk. i have seen
downloadeable software on some sites.

any help would be most welcome .

col
 
First, you need to have the error code read. It may be something that a
little preventive service can prevent a major breakdowm. Usually for
minor things, the flashing lights will reset themselves after several
days. For major things, it is just an early warning that the inevitable
is coming. The '95 and some '96 transmissions would fail between 80,000
miles and 130,000 miles. There should be lots of rebuilt transmissions
available now and some recycling yards (junk yards) may have some newer
ones.
 
I was told by two Boston-area Volvo dealers' service departments that the
flashing up arrow, combined with the flashing lights on the console, means
"time to buy a new $4K transmission."

Some posters to this group believe it means "time to clean or replace your
$130 PNP switch."

Who are you going to believe, two certified Volvo service departments or a
bunch of web geeks?
 
Robert Lutwak said:
Some posters to this group believe it means "time to clean or replace your
$130 PNP switch."
Who are you going to believe, two certified Volvo service departments or a
bunch of web geeks?
Click to expand...

If you read the codes, it tells if the PNP switch is the candidate. The
PNP switch problem showed itself in my '95 850 when I would shift the
automatic transmission manually. When I would downshift, sometimes I
got the error. The Error Codes said something like wrong speed ratio.
That could have meant it was the input speed sensor, the output speed
sensor or the PNP switch. In my case it was the PNP switch and it
usually is. Unfortunately the dealer replaced that last. In my case,
since it only did it when I was in "3rd" gear, it should have been
obvious to the mechanic what the problem was. The problem was that the
"service writer" never told the mechanic it only occurred in "3rd" gear.
When a "service writer" starts diagnosing or is too lazy to type in what
the customer reports the problem to be, that is a big problem. The
mechanics are highly trained, the "service writers" aren't. My
dealership goes through "service writers" on a regular basis. The
mechanics stay.
 
Stephen said:
If you read the codes, it tells if the PNP switch is the candidate. The
PNP switch problem showed itself in my '95 850 when I would shift the
automatic transmission manually. When I would downshift, sometimes I
got the error. The Error Codes said something like wrong speed ratio.
That could have meant it was the input speed sensor, the output speed
sensor or the PNP switch. In my case it was the PNP switch and it
usually is. Unfortunately the dealer replaced that last. In my case,
since it only did it when I was in "3rd" gear, it should have been
obvious to the mechanic what the problem was. The problem was that the
"service writer" never told the mechanic it only occurred in "3rd" gear.
When a "service writer" starts diagnosing or is too lazy to type in what
the customer reports the problem to be, that is a big problem. The
mechanics are highly trained, the "service writers" aren't. My
dealership goes through "service writers" on a regular basis. The
mechanics stay.
--
Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA, USA
Owned '67,'68,'71,'74,'79,'81,'87,'93,'95 & '01 Volvos.
The '67,'74,'79,'87,'95 and '01 through European Delivery.
http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman/volvo.html
Click to expand...

Not to mention, the "bunch of web geeks" have nothing to gain by giving
you advice to drop 4 grand on a tranny (or not) without diagnosis,
whereas the "two certified Volvo service departments" do. Also
generally when there's an internal transmission fault, there's
noticeable problems with the way the transmission is functioning, when
the light is on and the transmission seems to be working fine, the
problem is generally electrical.

--
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.)
 
I get the flashing up arrow on my '96 850 this time of year here in CT
(cold and damp conditions). My problem is due to the PNP switch, but
rather than replacing it (since it only gives the failure when it's
damp first thing in the morning), I live with the problem. What I did
was to go into the transmission module under the hood and modify the
memory chip to not store the fault code (by lifting 1 pin). That way,
the CE light does not get stuck on and the transmission doesn't stay
in limp mode. All I have to do is to shut the engine off for a few
seconds, then restart and I'm good to go with no fault!
If you leave the fault set, the transmission stays in "safe" mode and
only runs in 3rd gear.
It's a poor design by Volvo to have a switch that is subject to
condensation cause such expensive repairs for unsuspecting owners. I
wonder how many transmissions were replaced over the years because of
this stupid switch issue??

Replacing the switch is fairly easy, but I refuse to shell out good
money for a once or twice a year problem.

Bob
 
thanks for that, i think the problem is electrical, as my auto box
changes perfectly, no sticking in gears ect.the box changes gear no
problem, just the lights on. is the module in the pnp switch ? and can
i get at it easily?

col
 
rd said:
I get the flashing up arrow on my '96 850 this time of year here in CT
(cold and damp conditions). My problem is due to the PNP switch, but
rather than replacing it (since it only gives the failure when it's
damp first thing in the morning), I live with the problem. What I did
was to go into the transmission module under the hood and modify the
memory chip to not store the fault code (by lifting 1 pin). That way,
the CE light does not get stuck on and the transmission doesn't stay
in limp mode. All I have to do is to shut the engine off for a few
seconds, then restart and I'm good to go with no fault!
If you leave the fault set, the transmission stays in "safe" mode and
only runs in 3rd gear.
Click to expand...

That is not the way my '95 850 works. If I shut off the engine for 2
seconds and restart, even if I keep coasting at highway speed in
neutral, the transmission goes out of limp mode and everything works
normally. In a couple days the yellow light goes off by itself. Of
course now that I fixed the PNP switch, it never comes on anymore.
 
Sounds like the problem in my car. The transmission module is along
the passenger side fender well, in a covered box. Lift off the cover
and you will see 2 units. If I recall, the one closest to the fender
is the tranny module. Be VERY careful messing with this unit as they
are $$$ to relplace. I have quite a bit of electrical experience
soldering surface mount components. The part you are looking for is an
8 pin SOIC NVM EEProm chip. If you can understand this, than you will
probably be ok if you are comfortable with surface mount soldering.
You will need to either lift or snip the write enable (WE/) pin on the
chip.
 
On my 96 I get a constant CE light cause the transmision module stores
the fault. The problem is that you can't reset the CE fault with a
normal OBDII reset tool as with a normal emissions problem, since the
fault code is coming from the transmission module. You need the Volvo
reset tool to reset the transmission error code. Otherwise there would
be no need to modify the tranny module to not store the fault. I still
get the CE light and limp mode, but it goes away when the car is shut
off.

You probably have a different problem if you are getting the CE/limp
mode at hiway speeds. Mine ALWAYS happens on the first shift (into
reverse) coming out of the garage in the morning. After that, it's ok.

Another "trick" I learned from a Volvo tech is (with the car off!) to
move the shift lever through all the positions about 30-40 times. This
wipes the contacts clean on the PNP switch.

Bob
 
thanks bob, i will have a go at moving transmission lever, see if it
clears.

col
 
colin said:
thanks for that, i think the problem is electrical, as my auto box
changes perfectly, no sticking in gears ect.the box changes gear no
problem, just the lights on. is the module in the pnp switch ? and can
i get at it easily?
Click to expand...
Those wer ethe symptoms on my 94.. Shifts perfectly, usually comes on
when I move the lever.
One way to test: Before starting, run the lever through it's full
travel 5 or more times. This wipes the contacts, hopefully pushing
any contaminants aside (The switch is filled with grease)
If it fails less often after doing this, it's the PNP switch.

Not too hard to get at, but you need an alignment tool to get the
switch body aligned with the neutral detent on the transmission
control shaft.
I made one from acrylic plastic that fit over the flats on the shaft
and indicated the center line between them.

The hardest part was removing the switch connector. The switch wires
end at a plastic connector block that fits into a larger connector
assembly that;'s bolted to the transmission housing, It shares this
space with another block that probably carries the rest of the trans
interface. It was a real pain to unlatch the block and work the
wires through the grommet.

Instructions and pics here:
http://www.volvospeed.com/Repair/pnpswitch.php
 
hi
i did move the lever about 20 times last night, and guess what the
light has gone off, i did think it would stay on as it maybe logged an
error code, so will keep fingers crossed, if happens again i have
printed the instructions off the volvo speed site, and will have a go
at repair/clean

thanks for all the help.
col
 
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