Where to look?

[Dippydog]

To begin with the car is a '95[M] 960 3L auto saloon with a sunroof.The problem: went to it this morning drove it quarter mile and left it ticking over while I got some tools out of my Omega,got back in the 960 and the amber arrow in the dash cluster was flashing also the lights on the "W" and "E" buttons on passenger side[and just ahead of the gear selector]were flashing alternately.Drove about mile and a half put petrol in and still had flashing lights,drove mile and a half home and heard a slight crackly type noise which seemed to come from behind the dash in the ashtray/radio area.Couple of minutes later drove another mile and a half-still had flashing lights-and about 15 mins later started it to drive the mile and a half home-and no more flashing lights.During all of this the car drove perfectly normally.I'm wondering if water has got at something after all this rain,but if so where do I look and how do I cure this?It's not done anything like this before even after being washed with a pressure washer.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Dippydog

To begin with the car is a '95[M] 960 3L auto saloon with a sunroof.The problem: went to it this morning drove it quarter mile and left it ticking over while I got some tools out of my Omega,got back in the 960 and the amber arrow in the dash cluster was flashing also the lights on the "W" and "E" buttons on passenger side[and just ahead of the gear selector]were flashing alternately.Drove about mile and a half put petrol in and still had flashing lights,drove mile and a half home and heard a slight crackly type noise which seemed to come from behind the dash in the ashtray/radio area.Couple of minutes later drove another mile and a half-still had flashing lights-and about 15 mins later started it to drive the mile and a half home-and no more flashing lights.During all of this the car drove perfectly normally.I'm wondering if water has got at something after all this rain,but if so where do I look and how do I cure this?It's not done anything like this before even after being washed with a pressure washer.

Sounds very like the PNP switch on the gearbox aka inhibitor switch. Not sure which fuse holds the memory in the gearbox ECU or if you can clear the fault codes with the code reader (if you have one) but many others have found a cure by moving the lever (engine off) from park to 1 and back several times very quickly.

[rwdkev]

Have read of this recent thread.......

https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=294268

[Dippydog]

Thanks chaps.Didn't occur to me about the PNP/inhibitor switch as there was no hesitation in it starting[i.e. the starter motor operated normally]if the problem re-occurs[I've not had this car long and it's not done this before]I'll try the selector movement "fix" a try-might try it anyway don't think it would hurt. Unfortunately LS I don't have a code reader-not sure I'd know what to do with one anyway!

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Dippydog

Thanks chaps.Didn't occur to me about the PNP/inhibitor switch as there was no hesitation in it starting[i.e. the starter motor operated normally]if the problem re-occurs[I've not had this car long and it's not done this before]I'll try the selector movement "fix" a try-might try it anyway don't think it would hurt. Unfortunately LS I don't have a code reader-not sure I'd know what to do with one anyway!

I've had similar on a couple of other cars (not on a Volvo yet though) and on one of them, there is a secondary link to provide not only visual confirmation (by lighting up that selector position "spot") but also to tell the EAT ECU (gearbox ECU) what position has been selected. Without that information, the gearbox still functions but only has the mechanical information to go on so the changes are as harsh as literally slamming a manual from one gear to another without using the clutch (assuming you could defeat the syncromesh) as that is almost exactly what is happening without the electronic "finesse" added by the ECU knowing what range you've selected. I suppose it could be possible on that box for more than one gear clutch pack to be selected which would cause havoc (imagine being able to select both second and third at the same time in a manual kind of havoc) with limited electronic control. Hence it goes into "Limp Mode" and just "bangs the changes".

But i digress, it's a totally different sort of auto box to what you have.

Give the gear lever some exercise, if you can remove the top of the console trim easily to enable you to see the inhibitor switch, squirt some contact clener in before you exercise the lever.

If that seems to be successful, pull fuse #4 for about 30 seconds and then replace it. That sould clear the fault codes.

[Dippydog]

Once again thank you LS I shall give the things you suggest a go.