Good morning all. I have a sudden, no warnings type of transmission issue with my '96 850R wagon.

Yesterday morning, I started the engine, then allowed the car to run for a few minutes (as I always do...it was about 20 degrees outside) as I took the trash to the curb. After returning to the car, shifted into reverse to back out of the driveway, I felt the transmission engage as always, released parking brake, pressed accelerator, and the car would not move. I could feel that the engine was under load, but the car would not budge. Shifted into drive, the car moved about four inches, then abruptly stopped as if I shifted it into park. Shifted back into reverse, the car moved a couple of inches or so, and then abruptly stopped again. When pressing the accelerator, it still feels as if the transmission is engaged, but it just will not move. I do not feel this is a siezed brake caliper by the way the car abruply stopps. When shifted into reverse, the reverse lights DO come on. I have seen no check engine light or flashing arrow.

The day prior, I had absoutely no issues with the car. Transmission shifted perfectly, and I had absolutely no forewarning of this happening.

Has anyone seen or heard of issues like this before?

 

Fluid condition?

 

Well, when I checked it a month ago, it appeared fine. I just checked it this morning (transmission was cold, engine NOT running) the fluid was dark, thin and smelled bad. I tried to shift the can into neutral to push it back some (engine not running), and it would not go into neutral. Tried to start it, battery was extremely low. I have a trickle charger on it now. I teste dthe battery about two months ago and it tested good (came back from 2 week vacation and battery was dead dead DEAD! Charged it up, it tested good with a full charge at that time). *Maybe* I am having a low voltage issue. BUT, when I started the engine yesterday, it started fine. We'll see what happens with a full battery.

 

Okay, started car with a fully charged battery. Put it into reverse. Heard it engage, but car would not move. I could head the load on the engine. Put it in drive, it moved about a foot, heard a clunk and the car stopped (under no throttle, just idle). Put it in reverse, it moved about 5 feet, the transmission made some loud noises (gears clashing) and the car came to a screeching hault. I guess my transmission is done. Sucks as it's a Volvo reman with about 50k on it. I was going to do a fluid flush this upcoming week as it's oil change time. But, I guess there's no need to do that now on this transmission.

 

I would double check and make sure the e-brake shoes are not seized or it is something else.
Also double check the front axles.
I would check simple things before saying the tranny is done.

 

Well do, tech. Too bad it's raining and cold outside today. I won't get a chance to check it. Eh, I'll probably have it towed up to work so I can try to get it up on a lift and check things out better. But, I feel pretty confident the way it's acting, and the noises it made, that there is something seriously wrong internally with the transmission.

 

Hopefully it is something pretty simple

 

+1 My 95 850 Turbo has 201k on the original tranny, I would definitely check everything else before completely concluding. It might be worth a try flushing the transmission and putting good synthetic in and maybe a bottle of lucas transmission stuff.

 

I am actually wondering if I have an inner CV joint that has broken/come apart. I am just having a hard time understanding why the transmission would suddenly fail one morning with absolutely no symptoms prior. But, of course, it's SNOWING today, so I guess I will not be going under the car today. Yesterday is rained. Otherwise, it's just too cold outside. I think I'm going to have to get it towed to work. Ugh...this sucks.

 

I've had this happen twice. CV joints for sure!

Once in an acura TL and my old 850.

They will catch and release the axel. Or if it's bad they just won't catch at all.
Shifting around does nothing. I had to have a cop help me push my car out of the road on my prom night... oh geeze memories.

 

Okay, finally had time to jack up the front of the car and check things a little more closely. First off, the rear wheels rotate freely without the parking brake on. So, the parking brake is not the issue (I knew that). With both front wheels off the groud, in neutral, both front wheels rotate freely. Started the engine, put into reverse...I heard the transmission engage, load on engine. Released brake, and the wheels would NOT rotate until "POP" and then the wheels would rotate, but there was a tremendous racket coming from inside the transmission. Put into drive, the wheels would rotate in a "surging" fassion, then after a few minutes, "POP" and the wheels would continue rotating, but it wold make the same horrendous grinding sound as in reverse. Cut engine off, put in neutral, spun wheels by hand freely. It doesn't appear to be an axle issue. Something inside the transmission has come apart. Damnit. This gives me an excuse to do a manual swap, but I just do not have the money (we have had a VERY bad past three months financially, and this car breaking was not needed right now). Oh well.

 

Well, this is a very unexpected outcome for what seemed like a very bad situation for me. Knowing the car needed a new battery, I just went ahead and purchased one and installed it today. I have found a transmission for the car, but I won't have it for a couple more weeks (it;s out of state). Anyway, I installed the new battery, and low and behold, it seems as though my issues were caused by a voltage issue caused by the bad battery. I am shocked by this outcome. I know that a bad battery can cause all kinds of odd issues, but to create the issues I had with the transmission like this just blew me away. I mean, the bang out of year and the grinding noises (it sounded HORRIBLE). Of course, I am concerned that it may have actually damage to the transmission, I am still going to get the replacement transmission I have located. Now, I have only driven my car a couple of miles, I'll know more tomorrow after I drive it to work. I am planning on doing a transmission fluid flush ASAP. I'll keep you informed.

 

Any updates on this one?
I just had this exact scenario happen to me.. The car seems to be stuck in 3rd gear. It won't back up, but the engine seems to be under load. I CAN put it in drive, and it will move forward, but it acts like winter mode and surges until I get up to speed at which point it smooths out until I slow down again, and it downshifts. It won't roll backwards even in neutral. Fluid levels are fine, and the fluid looks and smells acceptable. No codes or flashing arrows. Any ideas?

 

I would defiantly start a new topic on your specific issue not all tranny issues are the same.

Sounds PnP-ish to me but start a topic and be as descriptive as possible so you get alot of responses.