G/box: AW50151AWD: Geartronic - too many revs.

[Centaur]

I have an XC90 D5 Geartronic which I have now owned for a couple of years. However, whilst I have been very pleased with the car in general, I have been disappointed with the underpowered engine and 'revvy' gearbox. A Rica Sport Tune has greatly improved the performance but the revvy nature of the gearbox remains.

I have driven many vehicles with automatic gearboxes and the torque converter in every model obviously introduces a degree of 'slip' into the transmission. However, the Volvo 'box seems to slip hugely and just pile on the revs. The engine re-map helped to an extent but still no reasonable progress is made without running at 2,500-3,000 rpm. This is not just a peculiarity / fault of my own car as other cars all drive the same way. Indeed, I read a recent article about the new S80 D5 with the better six-speed Geartronic and it was critisised for exhibiting just the same problem.

My question is this: is it caused by software control / mechanical design / insufficiently viscous transmission fluid and can anything be done to alieviate it?

Clearly if it's a mechanical feature of the 'box then it is unlikely that much can be done to improve it. However, if the 'box can be improved by simply changing the transmission fluid or by re-mapping the geartronic software then I would be grateful for constructive suggestions.

There remains, of course, Volvo's underlying rationalle for having the 'box work this way in the first place. My suspicion is that the 'box is a little fragile and can't really take all that torque at low revs - would I be better advised to leave well alone?

Hi
I have experience this effect there is possibly software up grades for transmission but now you have altered the mapping in the ECU this could cause big problems in the future as when software is dowmloaded into a Volvo there VIDA read all systems if one of the control module software number doesnt match what is in Volvo data base(VITA)it stops the download and this true of any software down load from ugrade to fitting component.

[Centaur]

Apparently my car is running the latest software and there is no further update forthcoming. This does not surprise me as the very latest factory models all run the same, which is why I wanted to know whether there was any aftermarket solution to this 'feature'.

When running in 'manual' mode the gearbox goes into lockup in 3rd, 4th and 5th (i.e. bypasses the torque converter, giving a direct drive similar to a manual transmission). With the Rica Sport Tune there is masses of torque available from 1,700rpm (the lower limit below which the torque converter will cut back in) and the car pulls effortlessly with only light throttle application. Why then in 'auto' does Volvo program / engineer the Geartronic to pull 2,500-3,000rpm to have the same effect. No other automatic transmission I have driven allows the torque converter to introduce over 1,000rpm of slip. It's noisy, fuel inefficient and causes excessive engine wear (wear increasing exponentially with rpm).

As I said before, the car is great but the powertrain is a disappointment from start to finish.

[JsR]

Originally Posted by Centaur

I have an XC90 D5 Geartronic which I have now owned for a couple of years. However, whilst I have been very pleased with the car in general, I have been disappointed with the underpowered engine and 'revvy' gearbox. A Rica Sport Tune has greatly improved the performance but the revvy nature of the gearbox remains.

I have driven many vehicles with automatic gearboxes and the torque converter in every model obviously introduces a degree of 'slip' into the transmission. However, the Volvo 'box seems to slip hugely and just pile on the revs. The engine re-map helped to an extent but still no reasonable progress is made without running at 2,500-3,000 rpm. This is not just a peculiarity / fault of my own car as other cars all drive the same way. Indeed, I read a recent article about the new S80 D5 with the better six-speed Geartronic and it was critisised for exhibiting just the same problem.

My question is this: is it caused by software control / mechanical design / insufficiently viscous transmission fluid and can anything be done to alieviate it?

Clearly if it's a mechanical feature of the 'box then it is unlikely that much can be done to improve it. However, if the 'box can be improved by simply changing the transmission fluid or by re-mapping the geartronic software then I would be grateful for constructive suggestions.

There remains, of course, Volvo's underlying rationalle for having the 'box work this way in the first place. My suspicion is that the 'box is a little fragile and can't really take all that torque at low revs - would I be better advised to leave well alone?

I had the same concerns with my vehicle and asked the dealer to check it out - they tested power at both sides of the box and said it was as expected - no slippage etc. It just feels wrong, as if it's never going to catch up, especially when driving round town - it felt as if it wasn't going to get into top gear. I was hoping the 6-speed in the new car would improve it but that doesn't sound as if that's to be the case.

regards

John R

[bircham]

Now I am running about in a 2006 185 bhp D5 6 spped geartronic until my car turns up I can really see why people dislike the D5 and geartronic box. I was surprised at just how little the gearbox allows the engine to do at low speed acceleration. The engine revs like crazy and the car goes precisely nowhere. Pulling out t junctions, even low speed manouvering in car parks requires massive amounts of revs for liittle return.
Putting the box into manual mode really shows how good the engine could be and that is why I ordered a manual car.
I have to say that the 7 speed auto in the new m class is much nicer.

Jon