G/box: AWD: Frozen Gearbox Cable XC60

[monkeysfeet]

Hi all. So I got into my XC60 (manual) this morning, and couldn't select any gears. Had neutral, and could move from side to side but couldn't put into any gear. It was -7 outside.
So left the car a few hours, and returned once a bit warmer and bingo! All was good again could select all gears, but felt as if I was shifting through treacle.
So, I have spoken to my main dealer who seems to think the issue is moisture in the gearbox cable. All they can offer is to spray with silicone to see if this resolves the issue, but just said it's one of those things and I'll have to live with it.
It was a bit embarrassing when the Mrs in her Renault drives away, but my Scandinavian 4x4 is frozen to the spot!!
Anyone else suffered this, and any other solutions?
Its a 2016 with 65k, manual R design.
Thank you.

[Tannaton]

Not heard of that problem before..... I'd be included to spray with WD40 as that is specifically a water displacer (hence the name...)

[The Thong]

Two of our Transit Custom’s did that too

TT

[DaveNP]

I had similar happen to me with the accelerator cable of a truck, a bit of a 'moment' when one realises the accelerator is stuck at flat out, fortunately it was early morning on the motorway which gave me time to compose myself and bring the truck to a halt going through the gears and standing on the brakes. We found that the cable was attached to the pedal arm behind the front grille and there was no boot on it to stop water getting in, then it was routed in front of the radiator across to the other side of the truck. WD40 helped to free it up but then we had to be sure to repeat the WD40 frequently as a preventative measure. I'm a little surprised that a Volvo has this sort of problem and I'd be inclined to carefully inspect the full length of that cable to be sure it's not damaged anywhere to allow moisture in through the outer sheath or to restrict the cable by being kinked or crushed.

[Dghani]

Hi, i experienced frozen gearbox for the first time today in the morning at -2c. I took car to the Volvo garage in Klagenfurt abd the found nothing unusual. I also spoke with my Volvo mechanic in Rome. He was just clueless like his Austrian counterparts. No explanation over this unexpected event. Never happened anything like that to oir other Japanese, Korean cars even at tempeature 17c below zero. Vovlo is expected to survive sub zero temperatures. My car is from 2014 xc60 D4 manual gear
l

[Jim123]

I had this problem January 23 and now again January 24 last year they thought it was the clutch so all was replaced now it’s happened again the thoughts it must be the gearbox cables where does it end I can’t have a car sat on the drive every winter because it’s to cold outside all my neighbours jump into there cars and drive off including fiat 500s me with a Volvo XC60 year 16-17 with 65000 miles on the clock nah I’ll stay in its to cold for a Volvo 🥶

[GrahamBrown1]

One way to determine if it’s the box cables would be to remove the air box and battery ect so you have a clear view of selector and cables. Then using a heat gun warm them and try. Bit of a faff I know but your warming just the cable and not the box to try to isolate the issue.

I have never experienced this issue in any car I’ve owned other than a very cold Cumbrian winter where it was -18 back in 2010 and the gearbox oil had thickened. If your fault isn’t the cables then the box oil would be my next thoughts but the temperatures we have had recently shouldn’t really affect it.

[Andmurph]

My 1990 440i used to have this problem with the hand brake cables every winter!

[FreshAir]

Originally Posted by Jim123

I had this problem January 23 and now again January 24 last year they thought it was the clutch so all was replaced now it’s happened again the thoughts it must be the gearbox cables where does it end I can’t have a car sat on the drive every winter because it’s to cold outside all my neighbours jump into there cars and drive off including fiat 500s me with a Volvo XC60 year 16-17 with 65000 miles on the clock nah I’ll stay in its to cold for a Volvo 🥶

I had this last week on a 2013 D3 manual gearbox in a V70 when the night before was -6 deg c. Car has done 82,000 miles and has not had the gearbox oil changed (yet).

It was definitely not a clutch issue, just that the lever was like you were moving it through the thickest treacle. Once car was warmed up it was fine, and has been fine since. No noise from transmission either.