The upshift light started flashing tonight and the car wouldn't accelerate above 25mph. That wasn't fun on the freeway.[/align][/align]I am also having a problem with my front O2 sensor. I get an error code talking about the heating element not working, and another code saying there is no activity from the front sensor.

Sometimes the car runs like crap and wants to stall, other times it slams when it shift into second, and still other times I floor it and it won't go over 25 mph. Also, when it does that, there are popping sounds that I think are coming from the exhaust.

Man, I hate this car.[/align][/align]Can someone help me? I am seriously considering parking this thing on some railroad tracks![/align]

 

I would replace the O2 sensor and have the transmission codes pulled it might only be a PNP switch.

 

Do I have to go to Volvo to get the codes pulled? Right now the car won't go over 25, and the dealership is 30 miles away!

I don't think it is the PNP, I did the "row the shifter" thing like 40 times and it didn't do any good.

 

Not really the Dealer unless there is no one in your area that can read the tranny codes.

 

Do they use a scan tool similar to the one used for the OBD II?

 

Yes but most generic ones only read engine. The ones that can read the other systems are alot more money to buy.

 

OK. Thanks for the info tech.

Here is an update. Yesterday I got under the hood and took the airbox out. Then I cleaned all the connectors under there. There were three... one that goes to something by the turbo (the connector was caked in grime), the one to the upstream O2 sensor, and one that goes into the tranny. The 02 plug has split casings on two of the wires!! I taped it up as best I could. Put everything back together and reconnected the battery. Check engine, upshift, and SRS lights still on, but the car ran fine. I made an appt at the Volvo dealer in Salt Lake City for the 26th of Dec.

I also noticed that the throttle sticks at a certain point as you press it to the floor. Nothing too bad, just a little point of stiction as you pass through the range of the throttle (the wife doesn't even notice it, but I do). Is this another symptom of the ETM?

 

What year is it?
The throttle might just be dirty on the sticking portion of it.

I hope with the rest it is something simple.

 

The car is a 99. It has 165k on the odo. In the past few months, the car has been showing the other symptoms related to the ETM. One way or another, we shall find out when it goes to Volvo.

Now I am off to sell a kidney to cover the repair bill...[>:]

 

Hopefully there is ETM codes in there and they replace it.

 

Fingers crossed!

 

Crossed here for you as well.

 

Another update... I went to Autozone today to have the codes read, and this is what they found...
P0751 Shift Colenoid A ckt performance or stuck off
P0731 Gear ratio 1 incorrect
P1618 Aux input output (WTF is this one??)
P0134 02 sensor no activity bank 1 sensor 1

Any thoughts?

 

Did they clear them?

 

No. I didn't want to take a car to Volvo that doesn't have any codes in it. Should I clear them before I go?

 

I would have cleared them and checked to see how long it takes to come back.

 

Maybe I will clear them out tomorrow. That will give me a few days to drive it to see if they come back.

 

Good luck! Seems that the transmissions are probably the winkest link in the chain that is this car... I have 209,000 miles and it still seem to be shifting good (touch wood)...

Keep us posted on the progress.

 

OK, Update time. Volvo said they tested the throttle many times and couldn't get it to fail. They also said that the took the car out for a drive and the battery was showing bad, and all the cables from the battery need to be replaced. So on the way home today with the car, it started to surge again and idle like crap. Now I really don't believe that a bad battery will make the car run this way, but just to humor Volvo, I went to a parts store and bought a new battery. I looked at the cables, and they didn't look very corroded to me. Guess what, the car didn't run any better! Now I will concede a bad ground may cause some sort of problems, so I will replace those with something a little bigger (NOT paying the Volvo price of $90!)

The check engine light came back on as well. Volvo called me and told me both O2 sensors needed replaced to the tune of $1500! I replaced the front sensor in Sep 07 and the rear one last month. The engine code was No activity in the front sensor. The service dept told me there is a kit that needs to be installed to re-route the connectors so they don't become saturated with oil. On my car, there is a kit installed for the rear sensor, but not the front. Is there supposed to be a wiring extension for the front sensor too?

 

Yes there is supposed to be one for the front as well.