Auto box worries

[nickbw898]

Can anyone with practical experience please post their knowledge about AW gearbox failure, esp about the torque converter failure?

Is tc failure usually complete ie outright,or is is there sign of imminent failure?

I am familiar with the usual cause of problem with this g/b - lack of maintenance and failure to change/flush fluid. I susccessfully repaced the box on my 240 1989 Auto without removing the engine and without the use of a ramp/pit.

In my experience the correct ajustment of the kick-down cable is critical. Adjusting it is also normally made out to be much esier than it really is.

I find determining the true level of fluid is much harder than it is popularly supposed. Given it must be checked with engine/gearbox hot; with engine runing, 2 minutes, after changing through gear positions at standstill.

Volvo and Asin Warner are frequentlly slandered on this, and other, sites. Yet in Canada, where the more recent Volvo off-road models are legion, experience seems to indicate "with correct maintenance" these units give efective trouble free service in excess of 250K miles.

[loki_the_glt]

My only experience was with my first 244, which had a Borg-Warner 55 box, which is similar to the Aisin-Warner ones. The torque-converter oil seal failed, producing a cloud of white ATF to spew out behind the car and the car to exhibit the clasic symptoms of clutch slip.

It was "professionally" replaced, by an "Automatic Transmission specialist" who destroyed the radiator and transmission oil-cooler in the process.

I agree that checking the level is a PITN, but was religious about doing it when I got the car back as £400 (in 1985 money) was a lot of incentive to look after the box's health, and that the kickdown cable needs to be set up properly.