First let me say this car has up and down shifted just fine since I bought it a few hundred miles ago. No hesitation either up or down, when hot or cold - until today (might add that temp today was around 7F here in NWOH).

Today my daughter was driving for well over 20 minutes when the car went into a neutral condition from stoplight. She had to have the car pushed into a parking lot and then called me.

I asked a friend to go out and check it out and I mentioned to him to check to see if the car would go into gear after sitting awhile (it did)

Also, about 2 days earlier, we experienced the "no crank" won't start issue for the second time since we've owned it. Next day it started up just fine. Not sure if these events are related at all, just mentioning it.

So what's everyone think? I think there's indeed trouble with PNP switch, but maybe unrelated. A friend says it's transmission solenoids. I've read that torque converter can also cause these hot neutral conditions. There are several threads on other forums about similar symptoms, but thought I would run it by you on here. Tranny was replaced by PO with salvage yard tranny, and in fact very recently he replaced S1, but what's really puzzling to me is how fine it shifted -until today. Any thoughts or help is much appreciated

 

Check the engine codes yet?

 

First thing I would do is check the transmission fluid to make sure it is at the proper level. Actually, it might be a good idea to drain and replace it as the previous owner might have put the wrong type fluid in it......

 

No codes...no pending codes. thanks for the reply. Very strange isn't it? No solenoid codes, nothing. Everything I've read about the condition, there were lots of codes.

 

Fluid is Red, clear, no odor...forgot to mention that.....sorry. Could be the wrong stuff I suppose

 

More - suddenly pulling P0039, "Gear shift position sensor....." According to my Autel EU702 code reader, and P1618.

Also, I now see check engine light, and flashing up arrow, both of which I can clear with the code reader and the car goes into limp mode when I dosee the flashing arrow and CEL. It seems I can get it out of limp mode/tranny slip mode/whatever it is by turning on and off and clearing codes but they come back again as well as does the condition.

Would you suggest a visit to Volvo to better read codes than my Autel? (The 1618 code doesn't read anything having to do with TCM to ECM communication, rather it shows something about "glow plug/heater relay"). Thanks all for your patience and experience !