Stiff ! after a spirited drive

After a spirited drive not fast just lots of up and down changes, the box will be harder to put into park and will also be stiff to put in reverse drive etc. It is not smooth to go into gear either from N or P to D or R after a spirited drive. After a normal drive it is fine goes into gear smooth also changes smooth all the time. Fluid lever is fine as is the atf itself (about 3 months old) Does anyone else get this. Cheers Bob....

Personally I'd alway start by checking/replacing the transmission fluid (I actually do this as part of every couple of service intervals on my cars). It does make a noticeable difference once done. (Also, if you do a search or wait until someone with more knowledge of these gearbox replies, something called a PNP switch usually needs cleaning out, that may have someting to do with it.)

Hi All The ATF level is fine but will check again after a good run, i changed the ATF about 1000 miles ago. She has done 170K miles. It is just that from cold with normal driving there is no probs. It is like once the box has done some hard work and the ATF must be warmer than normal this prob happens. The colour is a dark red but i have added a additive which i do find makes gear changes smoother. Thanks All Bob...

I do not mean to insult you in any way, but are you sure that when your ATF fluid was changed, the right specification fluid was used? (in the past some garages have put in the wrong grade oils knowing they are incorrect into some of my cars causing major gearbox problems).

Did it myself used dexron III

If anything when i first noticed this prob i would say it was a little under filled.? It is only since i have been going to my local volvo meet on my own with no one in the car, so i drive a little different. Just out of interest i think my 440 would dump oil if over filled, so the 850 wont.?

having never changed the transmission oil on a 850 i could not be sure but it there not a pump to pump the oil thru the rad cooler....i would think a lot of auto box problems are down to inappropriate oil, either being of the wrong type or allowed to overheat... i would check the operating ability of both the pump and the cooler the latter of which may have a blockage and maybe change the oil again for a higher spec one cheers jod