Hello,

The [Mode "W" engaged] warning lamp has been flashing intermittently for the last several months (it's shaped like an upward facing, orange arrow). When it does, my transmission acts funny. Sometimes it takes a very long time to accelerate. Sometimes, it barely accelerates at all. Today, it died while trying to accelerate.

My volvo manual says:

"The lamp will light up when the Winter/Wet starting mode isn engaged or if gears '3' or 'L' are selected.
If the warning lamp begins to flash, this means that there is a fault in the automatic gearbox. Contact Your Volvo retailer."

I have no intention of contacting my Volvo retailer, unless absolutely necessary. So, my questions are:

1. Could there be any other reasons why this indicator lamp would flash?
2. How should I go about finding and repairing a fault in the automatic gearbox?

As always, any help is much appreciated.

Thanks!

 

Your best bet would be to get the codes pulled for it. If it is a 93-95 model there is a way to do it yourself under the hood with the diagnostic box by the passenger headlight. There is a thread on her somewhere. If 96 or 97 you have to have them read with a scanner. Port is under the coin tray in the center of dash console. It could be something fairly simple like the PNP switch which tells the transmission which position the gear selector is in and other good stuff like that. That switch is about $100 and under the battery tray area on top of the transmission.

I would get it looked at ASAP. It is not good to drive it like that with it starting in 3rd gear for too long. I am guessing it resets itself sometimes and goes back to normal operation?

Rob

 

Yes, you're right. It resets itself, usually if I turn off the ignition, and then restart the car. The problem has been manifesting more frequently, however, which is what has me concerned. It used to show up once every several weeks, now it shows up probably at least once a week.

 

What year is it? Like rorike said, it could be the PNP switch.

 

Is the oil level in transmission up to the mark?