</P>


1994 850 wagon 160k</P>


Here are the symptoms...</P>



1. initially the car would not start. New battery and new starter put in.
2. still would not start. i checked the ignition switch by installing a known good one from another 850. still did not start.
3. at this point i had to resort to hot wiring the car to start it (like a thief)
4. next i started playing with the "J" relays above the fuse box. i.e. taking them out and putting them back in. miraculously, this allowed me to start the car. i'm happy.
5. on cold days or after the car sits for a day, it does not shift out to first gear. i can rev it up to 5000 on first. this scares me a little so i manually move the shifter to 3rd then back to "D". Miraculously, this fixes the shifting problem! the car shifts like a champ.
6. Unfortunately, after turning the car off. it won't start again. i have to resort to either hot wiring the starter OR removing the "J" relays and putting them back in again.</P>


I strongly suspect the two issues (no start and no shift) are related as well as the "J" relays. I am getting frustrated with the problem. Is there anyone out there who has fixed this? help! all help and suggestions are welcome.</P>


rodsob</P><edited><editID>rodsob</editID><editDate>37934.8242013889</editDate></edited>

 

rodsob;</P>


Your initial clue as to the non-start would be to observe if the car "lights up" with the ignition key at the next to start position. (this could have saved you a battery and starter purchase <IMG src=smileys/smiley19.gif border="0">) If so, put your foot on the brake and run the shifter all the way down and all the way up again. If the car starts, your linkage is either bent or loose and the Park switch is not engaging. Try pushing the shift lever forward a little (towards the dash) and see if the car starts. A mis-adjusted linkage may also contribute to the lack of shifting since the transmission may actually be in a lower gear than what you're reading on the console. If this doesn't work, you'll probably need to have the interlock (park switch) replaced. Good luck.</P>