V70 G/box: 2WD: Lumpy Auto Gear Change

[bgarston]

Hello,

I need some advice. In summary and after 170,000 miles my wife’s V70 has decided to start playing up! More specifically the AW55-50SN automatic gearbox has decided it will throw it’s toys out of the pram. The problem is intermittent and manifests itself with a lumpy/abrupt gear change. I know this is a common issue with this type of gearbox and have taken the car to a Volvo main dealer. The dealer pulled the following code of the ECU: "P0753" (Shift Solenoid 'A' Electrical) but advised to “given the age of the vehicle, live with it”. The main dealer has already checked the electrical connections to the gearbox and also ensured the condition of the gearbox oil and levels are acceptable. This was a few weeks ago however the problem has progressively become more regular (as I had expected). When it’s not lumpy the gearbox is silky smooth and operates as it should.

I know that a new Valve body costs approx. £900 + vat so I phoned a local gearbox specialist who has emailed a quote for £2400.00 + VAT “To supply and install a reconditioned automatic gearbox/torque convertor”. The specialist has not given us any other options. Now I realise it’s a simpler car and rear wheel drive however I had the manual gearbox in my 940 completely stripped down and refurbished a couple of years ago for the comparatively insignificant sum so you can imagine my horror at receiving the above quote.

I am not yet convinced the car needs a new gearbox; I am happy to be proven wrong but I suspect/assume it needs removing from the car, stripping down, new solenoids putting in, reinstalling and filling up with new oil. We live near Bristol and I am prepared to travel to a specialist that can take a look and fix the problem more economically. Any pointers of anyone reputable within 100 miles of Bristol please?

Thanks in advance

Ben

[Bonefishblues]

Give Graham at Horton Cars a call to discuss and give an honest appraisal. Does the fiddly bits on both of ours. See also his summaries on both 5 and 6 speed autos on his site.

https://www.hortoncars.co.uk/

[paddy74]

Have you ever changed the transmission oil? If not, I'd first try a simple flush on your own and see if it get's better.

The oil is around £60.-, plus one clip, a few o-rings and a few plastic bottles, all in all £80.- to £90.-. It's fairly straight forward, you really can do it at home.

I would try that first, doesn't look like there's much to loose. Here are two videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DxEmb-2s2A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxvFBDpSkmQ

Don't use the cleaner in front of the flush, but you see, straight forward.

[oragex]

As above, you may want to try first replacing the oil with the correct 3309 type. Important to do this step by step given the age of the transmission - 3.5L refresh every 500 miles or so and it's good to do only city driving between these changes (no long road trips) to allow the transmission to adjust a little without causing friction discs wear.

This is not expensive but not guaranteed results either. I would next try to look at the B4 servo cover. A little tricky but with the right technique very doable - a few videos on Youtube show this. See if you find the washer has detached from the cover.

Next step would be either a complete valve body, or only the three main solenoids. My guess is you don't need to replace the whole transmission - not only more expensive but also a bigger job - engine drop etc. The solenoids may help imho, this would be the better chance to get some results and not that expensive, parts around £80, labor around 5-6h. Again, there is a video on Youtube.

I would not go with a complete transmission on a 170k car for two reasons: the car may soon have more problems ($$) and may not be worth keeping it, second these 'refurbished' transmissions are not always what we think (or hope), may simply be a second hand one and if it doesn't work properly once installed, the specialist will simply tell you weren't lucky and turn his back. Basically at £2400 job, you are better off selling the car and getting another one in better condition.

[bgarston]

Originally Posted by Bonefishblues

Give Graham at Horton Cars a call to discuss and give an honest appraisal. Does the fiddly bits on both of ours. See also his summaries on both 5 and 6 speed autos on his site.

https://www.hortoncars.co.uk/

Hello Just thought I'd follow up my original post to let you know our V70 is fixed (sort of....read on) - Thanks very much everyone for the advise. I took the car to Graham and the team at Horton Cars as suggested. They tried flushing the box and replacing the fluid however in the end the box needed reconditioning. The cost of which made me wince and question if it was worth it. I know I could have spent the money on another car.....but then I could have found I had £1000's more things to sort just around the corner too - it's a case of better the devil you know so got our one fixed up. The team at Horton Cars are so friendly and knowledgeable and the job is so good it's like driving a new car, the gear change is sooooooo smooth. Graham tried other options first to try and keep the cost down - he's not in it to make a quick buck. I would recommend Horton Cars and we'd unequivocally use them again.

The evening before taking the car back to Graham for the second and final time someone drove in to ours outside our house and didn't leave any contact details :

I don't suppose anyone is selling a complete NSR door in Gold (Paint Code: 446-46) that I can use to swap out the one above!?

Thanks again



Ben

[Bonefishblues]

Pleased that Graham and his team lived up to the billing

Really crappy news about the door. Surely someone's got a door they could let you have, you deserve a break!

[JoeNinety]

Have you tried taking the door card off and pushing out the dent from inside? It might just pop back into place....

[bgarston]

Originally Posted by JoeNinety

Have you tried taking the door card off and pushing out the dent from inside? It might just pop back into place....

Thanks, no not yet. Although it did cross my mind. It looks like it was done by a van/high sided vehicle and I fear that even if it does pop out, and I'm certain it will, there will be a crease (where the corner of said vehicle pushed up against ours) that will be still quite prominent. I just want to get it fixed up the most cost effective way possible that doesn't make what is a nice car look like a shed.

Thanks again


Ben

[Georgeandkira]

Hello, That door hit looks real "slow" to me. I bet a delivery van or plumber's truck backed into you.

Go with the push out from behind method. The crease will then be defined. Auto body people here would then call it "fixable" which means the metal doesn't have to be replaced. If the damage is localized you may want to try your hand at body work. Hmmmmm

Glad your transmission is remedied.

PERSONAL NOTE: Given that the "bores" of our solenoids are aluminum, a material I consider soft and vulnerable, I was sold on the recommendations of others who claimed LubeGard (red bottle) used as proscribed The dosage is 1 ounce per system quart. The company claims the product is essentially a proprietary lubricant. FYI: The company has been around since the dawn of automatics. It sold a series of color coded bottles and a "recipe chart" showing how to add their stuff to a basic fluid resulting in perfect, and sometimes improved formulae. EVERY TRANSMISSION SHOP I've mentioned it to claimed it was an honorable company with chemically responsible and accurate products.

Now-a-days many fluids have broad coverage.
Three examples:
1) GM's older cars have all been "respecced" to take Dexron VI.
2) Ford's MERCON V replaces zillions of vehicles' need for older plain MERCON.
3) Honda's Z-1 fluid (uniformly assailed as an inferior fluid) was replaced by DW-1. All Honda autos use it.

On top of that, newer transmissions have real specific fluids like Mazda.

Anyway, the point is that LubeGard's red bottle is born out of gazillions of automatic transmission miles. I use it without fail. After a reprogramming helped my AW55-50SN (in a 2002 V70 base) 80%, the LubeGard cured half the remaining 20%. I won't be without it.

I do not sell the stuff nor have any connection to the company. Also, I'm as skeptical of "mechanics in a can" as anyone can be.

I cannot attach a photo as I cannot revise the size of files.
60902 is the product number of the 10 oz. bottle. I now buy it in quarts.
Get some and try it. It cannot hurt.

Cheers, George Dignam Georgeandkira on the board

[barrybritcher]

Can we have it in metric for the civilized please?