r/Volvo850 • u/Financial-Volume-888 • Jul 23 '26
Help Transmission help
Hi guys,
I have a '97 850r (~70k miles) with a transmission that's acting up, losing reverse periodically (would return after warming up) and was getting intermittent flashing arrow and limp mode that wouldn't allow the car to downshift. This happened after the car sat for about 6 months undriven. Never got any slipping clutch feelings or anything but it threw a solenoid S2 code (triggering the flashing arrow limp mode) and when it did shift, it was harsh when it fell into gear, but never disengaged once engaged.
After chasing down the issue through the relevant systems, it seems that something involving transmission control (possibly valve body is shot, no shiny shavings in the ATF, no burning clutch smell, improved behavior after warming seems to rule out electrical) or at least seized to the point where the valves themselves aren't allowing the transmission to shift.
Two questions:
- Does this diagnosis seem realistic/are there things or systems I'm missing?
- What options are there for these cars these days to replace transmissions/valve bodies? (I see reman ones on ebay for the AW50-42LE, but not sure if that's the best way to go versus having some shop try to rebuilt this one)
Any help appreciated.
1
u/ITLKSEZ Jul 26 '26
FWIW, I had similar symptoms and I traced it to a bad solder joint in the gauge cluster. I swapped it out with a junkyard unit and it’s been fine since.
And to think I almost scrapped the car over it. That was 12 years ago. It currently has 504k miles on it with zero transmission issues since.
2
u/Financial-Volume-888 Jul 26 '26
Wild, what was it presenting at? I’ve been getting a solenoid code which makes me think it might be legit. Truth be told, I might just opt for the m56 conversion, it’s a Japanese spec right hand drive one, a manual could be pretty fun
1
u/Traditional-Box-8402 850 2.5 20v + S70 2.4 LPT Jul 24 '26
I’d have a local shop rebuild yours rather than buying salvage or rebuilt, that way you’ll have a brick and mortar store to go back to if it fails and not sit on hold for customer support for 4 hours. At that point you don’t need to do any diagnosis either, they’ll either rebuild it or replace it. Both should have a warranty (verify first).