Gear selector

[familymangreg]

I'd assumed it was a mechanical linkage as that was a far simpler/cheaper option to implementing an electronic gear shifter as we've seen in BMW/Audi for some years now. To discover it is an electronic shifter with extra effort to make it feel like a traditional mechanical shifter seems a little bizarre!

Agree, its one of those elements of the XC90 interior which appears to date it slightly compared to the competition!

If this is indeed all correct, then I wonder why Volvo haven't engineer some clever window winding handles that actually activate a switch behind the door card? Odd.

:wq

[Haldex]

Originally Posted by Quacker

..there is no mechanical linkage between the box and the lever.

I believe all ATs have been like this for a number of years now.. Just like the drive-by-wire gas pedal- they are spring-loaded, to provide some physical resistance ("feel"..), but there's no mechanical linkage behind it..

[Quacker]

Originally Posted by Haldex

I believe all ATs have been like this for a number of years now.. Just like the drive-by-wire gas pedal- they are spring-loaded, to provide some physical resistance ("feel"..), but there's no mechanical linkage behind it..

Precisely so. Throttle pedals now are only connected to a potentiometer rotary switch. It feels exactly like old ones that had bowden cables directly connected to carburettors. Time and technology wait for no man.

[MOzS90]

I’m amazed by this. Volvo engineer a notchy, clunky, mechanical feeling lever to act on (but not mechanically or directly to) an electric actuator to smoothly select the drive mode you need.

It beggars belief.

And on that, thanks for the input but I’m out from this thread.

[volvocamper]

Perhaps the ‘notchiness’ / mechanical feel is to prevent accidental selection?

[Chief inspector]

Blame the USA, where there are multiple lawsuits regarding electrically controlled transmissions fitted by Merc, BMS and FCA-Chrysler.

All blaming a lack of obvious mechanical engagement when putting the car into drive or park.

Lots of Americans killed and injured by cars left in drive against a brake that eventually releases.

Not aware of any outwith the USA though, but it has manufactures rethinking things.

[gaby]

As far as I know, the XC90 T8 in the US also has the noble-glass selector.

[familymangreg]

Originally Posted by gaby

As far as I know, the XC90 T8 in the US also has the noble-glass selector.

Yes, and so do pretty much all BMWs as far as I am aware. I can see the American argument, and don’t want to discredit it, but many other manufacturers seem to use them

[Chief inspector]

Originally Posted by familymangreg

Yes, and so do pretty much all BMWs as far as I am aware. I can see the American argument, and don’t want to discredit it, but many other manufacturers seem to use them

BMW are implicated in the thing too, maybe the T8 works slightly differently, but the Yanks do have a bit of pressure for the shifter to be ‘familiar’

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimgorz.../#42cf54541488

[Philip Fisher]

I struggle to see the problem. If I take my belt off, or lift my backside off the seat or open the door or do anything which makes the car think I am not in full control it just bangs it in Park and puts the handbrake on...... I hate to use the word "failsafe" for fear of posting an update whilst stood next to a mangled runaway car, but they do seem to have got the safety of this one nailed.....