Problem, Overdrive Orange Flashing Light

[wright_t5]

Here's a new one for all you budding helpers.... (850 T5 1996)

This morning.... on the way to work... knocking along, slow, things still warming up.....

Then the Orange overdrive light starts flashing.... all other things seem ok... just this flashing light....

Thinks, stop and switch everything off restart and see.... do this, then we have NO dash lights, no speedo, no rev counter, but the car drives, although the boost is low... no high boost available.... stop re-start still no joy, car drives no dash lights, rev counter etc.....

Then they all come back to life, boost has returned, have dash lights, rev counter speedo.... but we still have the orange flashing light, but it all seems ok....

CLues?????

[Wobbly Dave]

Which light is it again? is it the Orange Arrow? If it is this indicates a transmission fault. If so - do not drive the car until you have sourced the fault.

[wright_t5]

Hi, thanks, yeah it's the overdrive, or when your out of "drive" mode light, Have noticed recently that changing from first is getting more clunky....

[Wobbly Dave]

You must - and I cant stress this enough seek professional advice. I am sorry to say - not wishing to sound alarmist - but it does sound like your AT box is on its way out. That is why you must go seek advice ASAP from a Volvo dealership/Indie or AT specialist.

You can if you wish check the level, colour and smell of the ATF. The dipstick is yellow and is located under the front air intake tube. If it looks very dark/smells burnt (like burnt caramel) - then you may be in troub. Could be that the level has diminished, below minimum. Your next trip should be to a garage. If you are with a recovery org e.g. AA or RAC - get it towed.

[wright_t5]

Oh, the "sport" light also flashes.... when the orange "Arrow" is flashing too..

[wright_t5]

Can't get it towed... it's an Auto.....

[Wobbly Dave]

Get the AA/RAC to come down with a spec lift or flat bed - you can tow them so long as the front wheels are off the ground.

You can in emergencies tow them on all 4 wheels so long as you dont go faster than 20mph.

[wright_t5]

Getting it home isn't the problem, I have a trailer, problem is I had it fixed a year ago...... arghhhh..... it let go big time that time, no drive at all...

at least this time it is still working although the light is flashing....

and it's not like we have been racing it either, stopped that the last time... :slap:

[Wobbly Dave]

It is not possible to diagnose via Forum. I would be inclined to err on the side of caution and get it looked at ASAP. This is why I say dont drive it too much if at all.
It will have thrown the relevant codes into the ECU - which you should get read and move from there.

If the box was replaced last year - was it a rebuild or straight swap? Is it still under warranty? It might be that something has worked loose and you are not looking at another failure at all. But it needs to be professionally checked.

[wright_t5]

Gearbox was re-built, new stuff, shims, bands etc.... had a 12,000 warranty... of course I have done more than that!!! just outside warranty period.... doh! always the way...

I realise diagnostics are impossible over the forum, ideas and experience was what I expected.... when we find out what this problem is, it will be a storyline for others that may fin thier way down this road....

[wright_t5]

has anyone got the OBD 2 fault code explanations???

[Broaders]

This has some common code problems

http://au.geocities.com/ozbrick850/computercodesvolvo.html#motronic

[wright_t5]

Umm, Thanks for that, but they are all fuel related, not gearbox, or transmission related....

[Broaders]

sorry, try these

http://au.geocities.com/ozbrick850/atf-codes.html

[t5 stealth]

have u tryed the obvious,,,
check the gearbox oil level,
normally they do funny things if the level is low,
had it b4 on various autos aswell as volvo,
the gearbox is only as good as the oil in it,
if its low then the gearbox wont do much

[wright_t5]

Yeah, done all the obvious things, oil level ok, colour a bit off but not really bad, it has only done 12,000 so shouldn't be too bad, Man I had a 740 Auto box that had done 170,000 and I never changed the oil once, and I did 100,000 of em... wierd..

Anyway, got the fault codes read, turns out to be P0740, something along the Torquw convertor Clutch electrics... not sure how or what that means, but it worked ok on the way home, right as rain, no flashing lights.... everything as if it had never happened...

Gonna change the oil tomorrow just to be safe... and ring the gearbox people, have a chat with them, and book it in to get faults codes read and cleared by Volvo....

Odd, car....

[poochingaround]

Yeah, done all the obvious things, oil level ok, colour a bit off but not really bad, it has only done 12,000 so shouldn't be too bad, Man I had a 740 Auto box that had done 170,000 and I never changed the oil once, and I did 100,000 of em... wierd..

Anyway, got the fault codes read, turns out to be P0740, something along the Torquw convertor Clutch electrics... not sure how or what that means, but it worked ok on the way home, right as rain, no flashing lights.... everything as if it had never happened...

Gonna change the oil tomorrow just to be safe... and ring the gearbox people, have a chat with them, and book it in to get faults codes read and cleared by Volvo....

Odd, car.... Due to other electrical faults and quite recent! gearbox removal/replacement could be an earth lead fault ,CHECK all earth straps ,clean and replace using a smear of petroleum jelly(vaseline)on terminals

[wright_t5]

Yeah, that's what we are coming to think, as all the other electrical problems we had this morning, the dash etc....... and the fact that it has gone away so it seems!!! wierd one....

I have had the odd time where the tracs light and ABS light comes on then for no reason goes out.....

Gonna get the plugs checked, look around and check earth connections too..

[poochingaround]

Yeah, that's what we are coming to think, as all the other electrical problems we had this morning, the dash etc....... and the fact that it has gone away so it seems!!! wierd one....

I have had the odd time where the tracs light and ABS light comes on then for no reason goes out.....

Gonna get the plugs checked, look around and check earth connections too..Try this;put a test lamp on neg terminal of battery put other end onto earth shouldn,t light up if lights up signifies POSSIBLE earth fault.

[wright_t5]

Worth a try, can't hurt to try different things, worrying that we lost so much electrical stuff this morning, yet the engine ran no problems at all.... there is something there somewhere.... finding it is gonna be hard now.....

[poochingaround]

Good Luck!

[wright_t5]

Good, nah nothing good ever happens.... :jaw: only ever one guarentee with cars, "they will go wrong" when least want them to..
:B_steerin

[Wobbly Dave]

Gearbox was re-built, new stuff, shims, bands etc.... had a 12,000 warranty... of course I have done more than that!!! just outside warranty period.... doh! always the way...

I realise diagnostics are impossible over the forum, ideas and experience was what I expected.... when we find out what this problem is, it will be a storyline for others that may fin thier way down this road....
I am sorry you didnt find my advice useful

[wright_t5]

Far from it, thanks for being there when I needed advise and support, that's what forums are all about, with all these things experience of others is all important, sometimes the obvious things to try are missed in misery of another problem!! I kinda realised that this one and being the Volvo would be ni-on impossible to fathom, I think I have a problem somwehere with a loose or dry connection as it worked so well on the way home!!!!

Thanks to all that repliwed, keep it up... :B_steerin

[wright_t5]

It's happened, poor ol gal has expired, I think the Mallory track day finished it off, performed well all day, the journey up was quick and non eventfull, just pulled out of the park and she went into limp mode.. stuck in third gear, have you ever tried to drive a T5 five up loaded and starting in third!!!! difficult isn';t the word... anyway the 90 miles went ok, apart from the odd traffic light drama...

In at Volvo now to see what problems we have... the gearbox chaps are not convinced it's an internal problem, they think it is electronic, me I am not convinced, it was making some really strange noises before it expired....

Ahh, well, time wil tell...