OK, start the car up and put it into gear, it drives fine, after a few minutes if you shift outta D or come to a stop, the trans no longer engages. Its not flashing the "W" button light, but the upshift arrow is solid illuminated, as is the CEL, though I have not had a chance to tow it in to be scanned. If I put it in park kill the engine and restart, it will drive again for a few moments, then the whole deal starts again. Any ideas?

 

You need to have teh codes pulled to know where to go from there.

 

Unfortunately, from whereI live, a tow to the dealer woudl be over $350, plus that again for the tow back, so getting it there to scan is a very remote chance. Is there any system by system or part by part diag I can do to test to see which part has failed? I dont believe it to be a major issue, just an electronic part failure it seems.

 

How about other shops in the area that work on Volvo's?
Most of the time even if you can some how figue it out it won't be right till the codes are clear.

 

Unfortunately there are zero Volvo specific shops in my area, and there is no way Im going to take it to a little redneck shop somewhere whose first question after they spit out their mouthful of tobacco is "that thing a bimmer?"

 

Sorry to hear that but the only way to know where to go is to have the codes pulled.
Or you need to find someone that has a scanner that will read transmission codes.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Actron-CP9125-.../dp/B0007LEG2K


I have one of these in the glove box of each of my cars. They have paid for themselves several times over. Yes they do indicate Volvo specific codes but you also need the book to decipher the codes


This one is the latest and greatest. It deciphers the codes on screen. It has a function to test O2 sensors and also indicates I/M monitor readiness ( important if taking a car in for emission testing after repairs). I have seen this one on the internet as low as $140.

http://www.actron.com/product_detail.php?pid=16318

 

But you also need to make sure they will read transmission codes.

 

Good point Tech, The larger CP9180 I know will read Volvo transmission codes that are OBDII compliant (P07xx) , I have never tried to read a trans code on the little $49 code reader.

I doubt if any of the handhelds will read the non OBDII compliant Volvo codes

 

Well, we got it scanned with a generic OBD-II reader and it came up with two codes, P0734 incorrect gear 4 ratio and P0740 torque converter clutch solenoid circuit. Anyone have any ideas of what I'm looking at based off this?

 

I would see how long it takes for them to come back the take it form there.

 

the lights never went away, I cleared them and as soon as the engine is fired up they are right back, and just those two codes.

 

Then most likely one of the soleniods are bad.