XC70: Gearbox Query re fluid change.

[Ian21401]

Volvo XC70, 2011, AWD. 140,000 miles.
Auto. box believed to be Aisin Warner TF-80SC.
Daughter bought vehicle from main dealer Feb. ‘17 with 88129 recorded miles and 12 month Selekt warranty.
During warranty period experienced “clonking/thumping” when moving from N into D. This was reported to dealer who carried out an “adaption” under warranty which cured the fault temporarily but it returned in June ‘18.
Dealer agreed to check box again as original problem was reported during warranty period. Dealer advised that they had changed the “internal oil seals”. When asked if this had necessitated draining of the fluid they advised that it had but would not elaborate and didn’t sound very convincing. As they were not charging for this procedure I was reluctant to pursue the matter any further. The original problem has not yet returned and there have not been any TCM warnings.
As the mileage is now 140,000 miles and the consensus on this forum seems to be that a drain, flush procedure is advisable I am trying to ascertain whether this is required yet.
Is anyone able to confirm whether changing the internal oil seals would indeed require the fluid to be drained?

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by Ian21401

Volvo XC70, 2011, AWD. 140,000 miles.
Auto. box believed to be Aisin Warner TF-80SC.
Daughter bought vehicle from main dealer Feb. ‘17 with 88129 recorded miles and 12 month Selekt warranty.
During warranty period experienced “clonking/thumping” when moving from N into D. This was reported to dealer who carried out an “adaption” under warranty which cured the fault temporarily but it returned in June ‘18.
Dealer agreed to check box again as original problem was reported during warranty period. Dealer advised that they had changed the “internal oil seals”. When asked if this had necessitated draining of the fluid they advised that it had but would not elaborate and didn’t sound very convincing. As they were not charging for this procedure I was reluctant to pursue the matter any further. The original problem has not yet returned and there have not been any TCM warnings.
As the mileage is now 140,000 miles and the consensus on this forum seems to be that a drain, flush procedure is advisable I am trying to ascertain whether this is required yet.
Is anyone able to confirm whether changing the internal oil seals would indeed require the fluid to be drained?

Fluid needs to be drained to replace the seals.

As the transmission has done 52k since its last fluid change, I’d suggest replacing it again.

[Ian21401]

Thanks Kev. Just considering the way forward at present.
I would be confident to do the spannering bit but I don’t have access to VIDA DICE for the final level and reset. I’m thinking of approaching my local Volvo indi. but wonder whether they would actually do the repeated flushes or simply dump and refill. Alternatively, asking whether they would do the final level and reset if I did the flushing etc. and would driving the car 10 miles to them after doing my bit would cause any problems.
Or could I justify the expense of buying VIDA DICE and a dedicated laptop from Cheshired5.

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by Ian21401

Thanks Kev. Just considering the way forward at present.
I would be confident to do the spannering bit but I don’t have access to VIDA DICE for the final level and reset. I’m thinking of approaching my local Volvo indi. but wonder whether they would actually do the repeated flushes or simply dump and refill. Alternatively, asking whether they would do the final level and reset if I did the flushing etc. and would driving the car 10 miles to them after doing my bit would cause any problems.
Or could I justify the expense of buying VIDA DICE and a dedicated laptop from Cheshired5.

You also need to reset the fluid counter, as well as reset the level.

Some indi’s will do the full flush via the transmission cooler, some just do a single drain & fill... you’d have to confirm that with them. Depending how bad the fluid is, you may need more than one drain & fill. Whether they’d do repeated drain & fills is also something you’d also have to double check.

If you decide to do it yourself without VIDA (so no level reset or reset of the fluid counter), driving 10 miles for them to do the computer side of it for you won’t cause any issues, but I imagine they’ll have some kind of charge for doing it (unless your indi is generous).

Make sure you use the correct spec fluid if doing it yourself... your indi will know this already. Transmission fluid from Volvo isn’t cheap, but you can buy some from brands like Mannol or Smith & Allen cheaper than what you’d pay at Volvo. I think your car takes JWS3309 fluid, but check your owner’s manual to be sure.

A VIDA laptop is definitely the way to go if you plan on doing DIY jobs on your car going forward. Its also very handy for finding part numbers, finding out if there’s any errors with your car, turning off fault codes when issues are fixed etc.

With regards to costs, just in case you’re wondering... a single drain & fill would be around £120-£140 including labour at a garage (approximately). A full flush would be around £300.

My indi doesn’t do flushing, just drain & fills. I’ve had two single drain & fills done on my car (not at once), gearbox adaptions reset, fluid counter reset & level set. In fact, I had the second drain & fill done recently (only about two/three weeks ago). As my car was in the garage for something else, I just let him do the transmission service at the same time. I do have a VIDA laptop, but being honest, I didn’t have the time to do the fluid change & couldn’t be bothered doing it on a weekend.

[Bonefishblues]

Saab specced 72K for a full ATF change interval on the 6-speed so you have a little wriggle room as long as changes are still OK.

Many threads, one here frinstance:

https://www.uksaabs.co.uk/UKS/viewto...175316&start=0

[Gazdkw]

If you are local(ish) to Leicestershire I can do the vida dice bit for you

[cheshired5]

Originally Posted by Ian21401

could I justify the expense of buying VIDA DICE and a dedicated laptop from Cheshired5.

Yes.

Seriously though, you could the spannering yourself and ask a friendly local member to do the final drain temperature check and counter reset.

Also seriously, I'd never see having a Vida setup as an expense.
You buy it, you use it, you save a fortune, you sell it when you're done. The net cost is actually very low.

An expense is paying for something and the money is never seen again.

[XC90Mk1]

There is absolutely no need to use alVIDA at all. You simply measure what comes out and replace with the same. That will keep levels appriximatly the same. Then you simply run the engine and remove the centre drain plug and run the engine and it levels.

You will take 20mins to get to minimum 50C and then it will hold at 50-53C and not rise.

I have Vida and as I do I chose to use it. But absolutely no need.

[Gazdkw]

Originally Posted by XC90Mk1

There is absolutely no need to use alVIDA at all. You simply measure what comes out and replace with the same. That will keep levels appriximatly the same. Then you simply run the engine and remove the centre drain plug and run the engine and it levels.

You will take 20mins to get to minimum 50C and then it will hold at 50-53C and not rise.

I have Vida and as I do I chose to use it. But absolutely no need.

Mine went up to 60c when I was monitoring it. Took about 20 mins. Theres alot of variables that will determine what the temp will be. Not sure where it would generally sit if left for a long period

[cheshired5]

Originally Posted by XC90Mk1

There is absolutely no need to use alVIDA at all.

The fluid counter monitors every instance of fluid temperatures over the years.
Once it hits a certain threshold, it will trigger a Transmission Service Required.
If you don't reset the counter, all the years of temperature data will continue counting up and will trigger the warning and reduced performance incorrectly. Maybe not straight away but you don't know when that might be.

The count is unique to every individual user as some pootle about doing nothing stressful on the gearbox and the fluid lives a charmed life and some tow caravans and trailers and explore the wilds and mountains.
I don't know how everyone uses their car so certain advice is best kept official rather than anecdotal and to be safe and to do the job correctly once new fluid is in, you reset the counter as a minimum.