Volvo: Volvo transmission, volvo 850 glt, volvo transmission

Question
I read your comments about the blinking arrow, dated 12/7/03, and I to have maintained my 1996 Volvo 850 GLT well.  One additional piece of information I have is that the blinking lights occur only in the winter after setting overnight in cold weather and the transmission will slip very badly until warm-up(30 min)is complete. The problem never occures in warm weather. A mechanic (no longer at the shop where my car is serviced)used an Snap-on tester and found a stop-limit-switch code, reset it, and no more problems untill again last winter. The code did not set this time though when I went to the shop to get it checked out. I was refered to the transmission specialist and he said not to worry until the transmission quit working. I am worried now. Is the gear position sensor an internal component or is it something I can change myself? Do you have any more advice?  

Answer
Hello Tom! The gear position sensor would not cause a slip. There is most likely an internal fault with the transmission. It is best to get the car checked by a Vlvo technician. The Snap-On tester cannot test the transmission for faults thouroughly. The Volvo Systems Tester(VST) is the correct tool to use. Although, any tester will not pick up a mechanical fault. I hope this info helps.


Jimmy