Help! I just received a warning message "try slow down or shift up" and my check engine light was blinking. I was barely going more than 25 miles per hour when this occurred. My 2002 S20 was idling roughly/sputtering. I thought the car would stall. The message stays on for about two minutes, and then disappears. Also, the message will go away if I turn the ignition off and re-start. The car has 109,000 mi. Two months ago, at 105,000 mi, I had the timing belt and water pump changed, and tune up completed by an independent mechanic that specializes in volvos and saabs. The car ran smoothly. A week later, I brought the car into a Volvo dealer for a software update for Recall 155. I noticed the car was idling roughly that same day. Any connection? Also, my check engine light had come on prior to this event, and my independent mechanic said the front oxygen sensor would have to be replaced at my next appointment at 110,000 miles (along with oil change and front brakes). What is causing the warning message? What needs to be fixed? Does this require immediate attention? Thank you!

 

You need to have the codes pulled to see what they are.

 

Wow, strange coincidence. I just signed up for the forum because I started having the same issue on my 2004 S60 today. I'm going to take it to the mechanic tomorrow to see what the codes say.

Actually, I just took the car to get smogged today and it gave this code when it failed smog.

P2401

Anyone know what that means?

 

That code should mean evap system leak.

 

Well, I just took it to the shop. He said that it's misfiring due to a bad #4 coil.

He's asking 225, parts tax and labor to do the job (and replace all the spark plugs).

My question is, how hard would this be to do myself? I'm pretty handy, I do my own fluid replacements as well as brakes.

 

Its not to bad at all.

 

I brought my car to my mechanic to check the fault codes -- (Misfire). He replaced #3 ignition coil ($72.50), replaced spark plugs ($27.50) and replaced front oxygen sensor ($301.50). With labor ($168), total bill was $603.67. The car runs fine now.

He also mentioned if the check engine light blinks again, it is important to have the car serviced immediately. The catalytic converter may become damaged.

 

Please help! I'm having problems with my 2002 s60 volvo, 76, 000 miles. It idles extremely high, I get the misfiring, trying to stall and the slow down or shift up while the engine light blinking. I have been having this problem since november of 09. I have taking it to the dealership numerous times and spent hundreds of dollars every visits. The car continues to have the same problem. The dealership changed throttle, replaced all of the spark plugs, clean the top of engine which they said was smudged with oil, did a complete maintenance and ask me to only used high grade gasoline in my car. I've done that. I took the car to another mechanic, they changed the sparks plugs, clean the top of the engine and poured some sort of stuff in the engine to clean it, just in case it was smudged with oil. Needless, the problem is still there.

 

Get the codes read and post what they are. Somebody might know of something that can help you.

 

I drive a 2002 S60 non-turbo, and I just had the same blinking check engine light and message that read "try slow down or shift up". I had a friend run a diagnostic to get the code and here's the code I received: 0BD II Code P0304: Misfire Detected in #4 Cylinder. Is it safe to drive 20 miles to the VOLVO service center in the morning?? Thanks for all your help!

 

Yes you should be fine.

 

When it happened to me, I drove my car about 5 miles to my shop. It was shuddering the whole way and running like garbage, but it made it.

 

My daughter's XC-90 out of the blue began flashing "Check Engine." The diagnostic code said "slow down or shift up." Turning engine off/on does nothing, and shifting in manual vice auto does nothing.
Reading earlier threads it sound as if it might be a plug, an ignition coil, or an oxygen sensor, right?

 

Yes, I ran a diagnostic and it was a "misfire in cylinder 4", but it could be a misfire in any of the cylinders. I had all 5 sparkplugs replaced and a new ignition coil replaced on cylinder 4 and the car runs great! Good luck!

 

just had the same thing happen. was accelerating up a hill (nothing crazy maybe 3000 rpm), got to top of the hill and got this message SLOW DOWN SHIFT UP with CEL, started to run a bit "choppy". Pulled over, shut it off, restarted and ran fine. I realize that I will need to get the coil and plugs fixed, is this something that needs to be done right now? Starting new job TOMORROW and would rather not have to spend the day at the shop or looking for a place to repair my 05 V70 non-turbo.

Any help is appreciated.

 

I suggest,having read thru the threads above that KWFED sticks totally to getting his vehicle serviced and repaired by his independent mechanic as his car seems to run well after each visit, as opposed to those to the dealers service department.
If he specialises in Volvo's and Saab's he is sure to have up to date diagnostic computer equipment to do all the repairs and essential software updates one would expect.

 

Hey Guise,

Thankful that this topic had been discussed. I got the "try slow down or shift up" and flashing/steady "check engine" light combo happen on my way home late one night. I have a 2007 s40 and it was sputtering, sorta hesitating when accelerating, kept feeling like it was gonna cut off, but it was not stalling and I made it home.

The next day I drove the car again to get to the dealership mechanic and with only like a mile to go, it just broke down completely. I was able to turn the car back on and drive a short distance but I was totally freaked out by then. Anywho---turns out that the problem was caused by the ignition coils and spark plugs as other have said too.

The service rep suggested that I replace all 5 ignition coils and all 5 spark plugs, probably not totally necessary because only two were the problem, but I decided it was worth it not to face any future hassles--total cost $732 (+ $132 labor.)

Just thought I'd share for the next time this happens to someone.

 

I got the same "Drive slow, shift up" last night on a 2002 S60.
It's running real rough.
The engine light has been on for awhile but when I read the codes, there are never any Current, Pending or historical faults reported.
I'm using a bluetooth OBDII dongle that plugs into the OBDII port then an app on my phone shows engine data and faults when requested.

UPDATE:
Based on the posts in this thread, I decided to try and isolate a bad coil.
I found that coil #3 was bad. Went to Autozone and got a new coil for $56.00.
Good to go now.
I found out tonight that the reason my OBDII reader doesn't show any codes on the Volvo is that it doesn't support the ISO protocol that Volvo uses
for OBDII. I do get some limited information such as RPM, Water temp etc. but I can't read codes with it.

 

Hi, my wife is having this same problem. I replaced the spark plugs today; one was completely disconnected. How would I know which coil might be bad? One of the coils had separated from its rubber gasket, but besides that, I don't know what to look for. Thanks!
Bevin

 

With the engine idling, disconnect the plug from each coil one at a time. If the coil is good, you will hear a change in the engine RPM. If the coil is bad, the engine RPM will not change.