I just acquired a 1997 Volvo 850 GLT SW. The Automatic Transmission shifts well at normal acceleration. If you go into passing gear, the tramsission will not change in a timely manner and then it changes with a hard jerk. It appears to be holding back when to the floor starting out or hitting passing gear. May not be a Transmission problem. Any ideas? Thanks, Ron

 

Get it serviced and go from there.

 

Could just need to be flushed. What color is the Trans fluid?

 

In addition to Groton's suggestion, the normal colour of the fluid for the AW50-42LE should be clear red and must not have burnt smell to it. I would flush the system with the correct fluid (Dexron-III/Mercon) and retrieve fault codes from the TCM (Trans. Control Module); your 850 requires code reader that can access TCM.

Tech, what else could it be?


JPN

 

Fluid is nice. I had not driven this car, but very briefly when I posted. Trans is fine. What I think I have is the engine holding back(No CutbacK) under pressure. What does that leave? Turbo, Catalytic Converter, strarving for fuel? The engine feels like it basically slows at 55 Miles an hour & you hit passing gear. Any ideas? I drive Jaguars, not these, but thought I could use a SW. Just tell me where to start. Two scanners showed nothing, but suspect may need one with Volvo software, but I'm not taking it to the Dealer. Thanks for any help. Ron

 

Check to see if you have to much slack in the throttle cable. If it is loose, it might not be opening the throttle all the way, which would make the trans shift late because it does not see a big enough load on the engine.