Geartronic Jolt engaging D or R

[Tatsfield]

I started with 215 bhp and Polestar raised it to only 230 bhp and I was still impressed. I don't think I need more than 230 bhp. The main improvement and change to my driving is that I barely have to use the "S" mode at all if I'm in a hurry. The engine picks up low in the rev band and drives through to beyond anything that I could need on a public road. Sure a hot hatch might well beat me away if he was ready for it but in the immature world of traffic light racing, my XC70 is a surprise. That's a measure of what it can do, not necessarily the way I drive it!!

[bracken78]

The thump into D on Volvo is of interest to me as my 2014 XC70 D5 has done in the past so I have read this thread with interest. Note our XC70 has never thumped into R. My understanding is it something to do with the valves inside the box being slightly ‘stuck’ and the thump is when a valve releases. These can be replaced which I think this was mentioned on the first page. I have read people saying the thumps can also be caused when the engine is running as X RPM and the gearbox thinks the engine is running at Y when D is selected, they are not 100% in sink with each other. I am no engineer and so have no idea if this is true or not but more on this further down.

Our XC70 tended to thump when the car is in-between cold and full working temperate so basically, do a drive of 2-10 miles and when you got back in it thump into D unless allowed to go cold. We had the gearbox oil changed and adaptations reset in 2020 by a Volvo specialist and this cured the problem but only for a short time.

Interestingly, since I have starter to commute in the car 30 mile each way 3 times a week for the last 6 months the car has not thump once into D. Even with a number shorter weekend drives falling into the 2-10 miles duration it behaves perfectly.

Since using the XC70 for commuting I over 6 months I have never seen the ‘Battery Low’ warning which we used to see occasionally ever since having the car since 2019. Recently I have thought that maybe the low battery is asking for more charge from the engine and so the engine is running ever so slightly higher in RPM than the Gearbox expects causing the thump. Just a thought…

The car will be having a new battery shortly.

[jasons6930]

Just put a new battery on mine when I was getting the battery warning and not seen it since.

I had to reset the bms by unplugging the sensor on the battery terminal and plugging it back in and all has been good.

This worked for me..


https://youtu.be/ul8QOfdn_94

[Tony Rama]

Originally Posted by jasons6930

Thanks Tony, funnily enough, they did the trans flush and adaptations reset along with cambelt aux belt etc and were very reasonable indeed and would have no hesitation in recommending them. I had a 200 mile round trip for that but was well worth it!

Having said that, i am sure they would have applied the latest software for it, unless it is only available to main dealers?

Thanks

The gearbox software update is itemised on my invoice, so if not on yours, it may not have been done. I reported the D R thump to them and requested the update, having read about it in other treads here abouts.

[jasons6930]

Originally Posted by Tony Rama

The gearbox software update is itemised on my invoice, so if not on yours, it may not have been done. I reported the D R thump to them and requested the update, having read about it in other treads here abouts.

The only items on my invoice are trans flush and replace cam belt and tensioners etc. but to be fair, they didn’t mention anything about doing a software update as well. I dropped the car in around 8.30 and it was ready at 1pm so I don’t know/think if that would have been enough time to get all that done with the software update.

[Familyman 90]

They could do all that comfortably in 90 minutes, with time for a cuppa.

[jasons6930]

Originally Posted by Familyman 90

They could do all that comfortably in 90 minutes, with time for a cuppa.

With adaptations?

To be honest, I haven’t got a clue how long any of it takes!

[FreshAir]

Volvo are saying the Polestar 215 version update now includes a 20 second overboost as well.

Not that it matters to me as I have a D3 136

Has anyone got Volvo down below the £595 for a Polestar update?

[Tony Rama]

Originally Posted by jasons6930

With adaptations?

To be honest, I haven’t got a clue how long any of it takes!

They said it takes about an hour to update the gearbox software and run the adaptions. They charged 1 hours labour plus the software.

[jasons6930]

Ok, so all software is indeed up to date so they applied the Polestar upgrade and it certainly does make things a little more lively thats for sure!

However ---

Drove home the thirty odd miles of motorway and dual carriageway, reversed up the drive and then put it in drive to go forward to straighten up and it goes BANG into drive, but not into reverse.

Very concerning, so called the dealer and i am taking it back on Thursday for them to take a look.

And it only happens when the gearbox is at operating temp, as i have just been out to it, and tried it again and the gearbox has cooled to around 75 degrees, and now the car doesn't bang going into drive.


I seem to be taking one step forward and two back.

Although it does seem that the Polestar update has changed some mapping in the gearbox, and that is just potentially exagerating an underlying issue?