V70 G/box: 2WD: Help with possible gearbox problem

[RG_Toad]

Ooops - seems I posted this in the wrong section last time, so here it is again...

HI all.

There's obviously a lot of Volvo knowledge in here, so I was wondering if anyone could advise on a problem I'm having with my 2001 V70 T5 geartonic. It has about 77k on the clock and had a full Volvo dealer service history when I bought it about 18 months ago.
I took it in for its 90k service recently at a well known Volvo specialists (not a dealer, but they have all the kit) that I've used for a few years now and mentioned to them a couple of minor niggles I'd noticed.
There is a sort of rasping sound coming from somewhere in the engine compartment which rises and falls with the engine revs and is there constantly regardless of whether the car is in park, neutral, reverse or drive. It's slow enough to count the "rasps" when the engine it ticking over - probably 3-4 a second. The only way I can describe it is like the sound made when brushing a hand accross a wallpapered wall, only a bit deeper.
(It's not any of the belts as the recent service just replaced them all, and it's not the engine.)
When starting from cold, the car doesnt move up through the gears as fast as it does when it's warmed up. ( I read that it may be programmed to do that though?)
When going from forward to reverse gears and vice versa, there can be a second or two delay in the gear being selected, and sometimes - particularly when cold - there's a kick and a thunk as the gear grabs.
The traction control system kicks in a little more than it used to - it comes on sometimes when turning out of junctions, accelerating on wet roads, etc - and that makes a loud (though different) rasping sound for a second or two. (I will need some new front tyres soon though.)

The service centre say they checked the ATF and it looks and smells fine, so they didnt change it. They also say that they put the car on their computer and couldnt find any faults. And there are no warning lights on the dash.
I had the gearbox software updated about a year ago to cure the "neutral when stopped" issue, and they tell me the software is up to date.
But regardless of all that, they tell me they think there's something wrong with the gearbox and that I'll need a new one, and quoted me about £3000!

Other than the issues described, the car drives fine, but as we're off on a couple of fairly long trips soon, fully loaded with the kids in the car, I'm now wondering whether I shoudl risk it. Conking out on a motorway in the early hours in winter doesnt appeal much. Has anyone had similar problems?
Should I take it to another Volvo specialist for a second opinion?
Any advice gratefully received.

Many thanks

[pookie]

If the specialist was thinking about your problems, he should have run the car when the belts were removed. The belts may not be noisy but one of the units they drive may well be.
Also I'd want something a little more concrete than "think" it's the gearbox at £3000-00 a go.

Pookie

[RG_Toad]

Hadn't thought of that. Driving home from work tonight the gearbox was as smooth as anything so I think I'll give a few things a squirt of WD/silicone lubricant tomorrow and see if that makes a difference.

Thanks Pookie.

[RG_Toad]

Have given it a squirt but the sound seems to be coming form the right hand side of the engine bay, i.e. the opposite side from where the belts are.
It only seems to become noisy when it's been running a few minutes.
Still mystified...
ATF flush perhaps...?

[stef1957]

Take it to Charlwood Volvo, I have a thread going on about them under Indipendent Service specialsts so check them out. They are only litterally around the corner from Gatwick so not so far for you mate.

stef