My 94 850 has an intermittent issue what I would call a "bumpy shift" from 1 to 2 (auto trans). The tranny does not have any other issue e.g. slipage, noise, etc, just this shift issue. If you use winter mode (2nd gear starts), I don't have any issues. This condition has persisted for 20K miles and it has got any worse or any better. I don't have the flashing arrow or any trans codes. Does anyone out there have any ideas? or has anyone had the same problem?

BTW I did flush the fluid twice.

 

I would try putting some of the lucas tranny stuff in it and see what it does

 

If the fluid is dirty I would flush it first then add the Lucas.

 

also i believe it takes 3 drains in order to flush everything out

 

I am having the same problem with my volvo. I have the same year and model. my 1st and 2nd gears begin to bog down as if the engine isn't receiving enough fuel. I took mine to a transmission shop and, the well educated mechanic believed it to be an issue of a failing sensor. I'm a poor college student and am desperately searching for a reasonable solution.

 

The drain and flush is something you can do easily.

There is a drain plug on the transmission. Just jack the front up (both tires off the ground), drain all the fluid you can out, put the plug back in, put as much fluid that came out back in, start it up and go through all the gears including reverse. Do the same thing again. Do this until the fluid coming out looks almost as clean as what is going in. Make sure you use Dexron III fluid. You will probably go through about 12 quarts. Each drain will on get about 1/3 of the fluid in the transmission, that's why you are doing it multiple times. On the final fill make sure you have the correct amout of fluid by using the dip stick.

Do NOT do a power flush!