I'm hoping this is normal behavior for a Volvo A/T...anyone else please chime in and let me know your experience. While cruising on the highway my tranny runs comfortably in overdrive (economy mode), but each time I just barely touch the pedal to adjust my speed, the tranny downshifts to a lower gear for a few seconds (causing the rpms to go up) then shifts back into overdrive. The tranny acts like I shoved the pedal to the floor in attempt to get up to passing speed, but I'm just apply easy pressure to the pedal. This happens all the time, highway or city driving.

My other vehicles stay in overdrive unless I 'really' put the pedal down. The volvo acts as though I'm gunning for speed with the slighest amount of gas.

Anyone else experiencing this, or is my tranny excessively shifting? What's the fix? thanks!

 

That seems to be a little touchy. Not sure where to tell you to look though. If there is no codes then I would check the fluidlevel and color.

 

hmmm, no codes. Is there a software improvement available for my year/model?

 

No not for the 1998. Is the throttle cable broke where it mounts to the firewall? Sometimes the plastic tabs break at the firewall.

 

nope, everythings seems to be in its proper place. fluid is less than 6000 miles old. any other ideas?

 

Sorry but no. Not unless the throttle position sensor is starting to go bad.

 

thanks Tech...guess I'll just continue to drive as usual and see if anything happens down the road. have a great weekend.

 

You to.

 

tech...sorry to bring this up again, but I'm heading out of town again for another week and want to get any problems resolved before leaving...

I posted this questions at volvospeed back in May when I was unable to log into this forum. Below is one of the replies I received...does it sound like a reasonable explanation for the downshift every time I take my foot off the pedal?

"Mine does this too, it's just toggling the torque converter lockup. If you coast it's going to unlock the torque converter, when you apply gas it's going to remain unlocked until it decides that it's a good time to lock it up to increase transmission efficiency.

At least this is what I think it should be doing, if not then... well looks like you an I have a transmission problem"

 

It is possible but I haven't seen any problems like that unless it was a TPS or throttle cable. But also they usually set codes.

 

Just tried a swapped TPS...no change. Oh well, hopefully it isn't a big deal. BTW...what year did Volvo come out with the electronic transmission?

 

What do you mean by electronic transmission? Like what year for the software upgrades? If so then 1999.
The 1993 was the start of the electronic shifted tranny. It uses the TPS and ABS to shift the tranny.

 

year that the software stuff began...1999...got it...thanks. I'm guessing that it has something to do with the electronic throttle that started that year as well. Not sure if it is good or bad that my transmission can't be upgraded, but glad I don't have the problems with the electronic throttle. thanks again

 

Keep me updated on how it is.

 

Update: Talked to an indy about the shifting. One of the mechanics said that the unlocking was unusual...another said it was normal and happened with his Volvo all the time. They hooked up a code reader and found nothing, so the bottom line from both guys was to leave it alone.

 

OK hopefully all is well now.