very expemsive mistake

[mordred1973]

The expensive mistake is alas my geartronic has been diagnosed as needing full replacement. Recently it has started to slip mid range and not lock up and then slam into gear. Dealer has just called to say the gearbox is beyond repair and a full new one is required. I am alas 18 months out of warranty, they are asking volvo for a contribution but not holding my breath!

So much for have a fluid change and recalibrwtion last year, hasnt helped it get beyond 75000 miles in 4.5 years.

Hould have spent the £700 a year extending the warranty.......

[Petey80]

Sorry to hear about that.

Hopefully Volvo will foot some of, if not all of the bill. Surely things like that should last longer than it has, if not for the life of the car.

I only say that as my Astra is on 258k and is still on original clutch and gearbox. But I guess with new and fancy tech, they aren't always built to last.

Hope you get it sorted to your satisfaction.

[luggsey]

Originally Posted by mordred1973

The expensive mistake is alas my geartronic has been diagnosed as needing full replacement. Recently it has started to slip mid range and not lock up and then slam into gear. Dealer has just called to say the gearbox is beyond repair and a full new one is required. I am alas 18 months out of warranty, they are asking volvo for a contribution but not holding my breath!

So much for have a fluid change and recalibrwtion last year, hasnt helped it get beyond 75000 miles in 4.5 years.

Hould have spent the £700 a year extending the warranty.......

Get an independent auto gearbox shop to quote for rebuild.

[mordred1973]

does anyone know a decent (used to Volvo Geartronic) gearbox shop in the midlands (live Northants but can travel since car is driveable)

Unfortunately it has started to slip in the mid-range rather than locking up if you give it any large throttle and thumps into drive about 50% of the time.

Obviously Volvo dealers do not strip the boxes down they just replace them. I am waiting to see what contribution Volvo UK would like to make, but would be useful to get the view of an independent as well.

Many thanks in advance...

[GreenBrick]

Originally Posted by Petey80

Sorry to hear about that.

Hopefully Volvo will foot some of, if not all of the bill. Surely things like that should last longer than it has, if not for the life of the car.

I only say that as my Astra is on 258k and is still on original clutch and gearbox. But I guess with new and fancy tech, they aren't always built to last.

Hope you get it sorted to your satisfaction.

258K on a clutch, that is astonomical, I though 118K on my 940 clutch was good!

[andrewpain]

Originally Posted by luggsey

Get an independent auto gearbox shop to quote for rebuild.

love the dog!

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by luggsey

Get an independent auto gearbox shop to quote for rebuild.

This is worth exploring. Volvo do not repair the gearboxes, they will only replace with an entire new one.

Auto gearboxes are complex and a single component might be causing your problem. Auto gearbox faults also must be diagnosed in the car as electronics and high pressure fluids are needed for them to function. Post mortems are limited to measuring and visual inspection of components.

Hence a good, experienced specialist could save you ££££

[mordred1973]

Originally Posted by Tannaton

This is worth exploring. Volvo do not repair the gearboxes, they will only replace with an entire new one.

Auto gearboxes are complex and a single component might be causing your problem. Auto gearbox faults also must be diagnosed in the car as electronics and high pressure fluids are needed for them to function. Post mortems are limited to measuring and visual inspection of components.

Hence a good, experienced specialist could save you ££££

I am 150% sure you're right, hence hoping someone can recommend a decent gearbox specialist.....I wouldn't have a clue other than sitting with google and seeing if anyone had given any feedback :-(

Update...local specialist has told me for a complete rebuild they're looking at £2850, may not require a total rebuild but best to work on that. a few more calls to bench mark now....

second update....another quote of £2000-£3000 plus VAT for refurbishment. so in the same ballpark.

[andyg]

If your car starts and runs with no error messages on the dash then you could consider trading it in for a new or nearly new model with 1 or 2 years original manufacturers warranty? Most garages / dealers don't even test drive the cars they take for trade-in. They just do a visual check inside and out and start the engine to check for error lights. That is especially true if it is not a Volvo garage because almost certainly they will just be shifting the trade-in car onto an auction company for a book price, rather than keeping it on their forecourt to sell. So why would they bother to do any more checking? Sure you will loose some margin in the trade-in deal. But that is unlikely to be much more than the £2-3k you have been quoted for a rebuild of the auto box, with no guarantees that the problems might not reoccur down the line. Auto box refurbs are very hit and miss. Just a thought.....

PS. If you are concerned about the ethics of this approach, the next buyer at auction will almost certainly be a second hand car dealer who will sell the car to a new owner with an after market warranty included as standard. Those warranties normally cover the transmission for around 6 months from purchase.

[mordred1973]

Originally Posted by andyg

If your car starts and runs with no error messages on the dash then you could consider trading it in for a new or nearly new model with 1 or 2 years original manufacturers warranty? Most garages / dealers don't even test drive the cars they take for trade-in. They just do a visual check inside and out and start the engine to check for error lights. That is especially true if it is not a Volvo garage because almost certainly they will just be shifting the trade-in car onto an auction company for a book price, rather than keeping it on their forecourt to sell. So why would they bother to do any more checking? Sure you will loose some margin in the trade-in deal. But that is unlikely to be much more than the £2-3k you have been quoted for a rebuild of the auto box, with no guarantees that the problems might not reoccur down the line. Auto box refurbs are very hit and miss. Just a thought.....

PS. If you are concerned about the ethics of this approach, the next buyer at auction will almost certainly be a second hand car dealer who will sell the car to a new owner with an after market warranty included as standard. Those warranties normally cover the transmission for around 6 months from purchase.

not bothered about those ethics....buyer beware lol.

more bothered that I have been given 6 months notice of redundancy at work, so p/x the car means i need to fond £20-30k for another car....