C70 D5 Auto Gearbox

[68shoe]

Hi all, I have a late 2006 C70 D5 Auto (Mk2 if such a thing exists?)
Has a couple of problems - The passenger door unlocks with the remote fob but will not open from the inside - Any ideas? I don't want to risk taking the door card/panel off in case the airbag blows up in my face!

Also (the more serious bit), the gearbox... When it's cold, it's fine.
When it warms up (4 or 5 miles) it's a nightmare, unless I'm on a motorway etc.
Slowing down, I get the 'cattle grid' vibration and when accelerating it revs (I think between 2nd & 3rd) then suddenly clunks into gear so hard that it feels like I've been hit from behind!
It also makes a nasty noise when coming to a halt.

Volvo have said it needs a new box (£4500) but I have seen/heard of cheap fixes like a B4 cover??? Any ideas would be appreciated as I love the car but haven't got the cash for a new gbox... Here's hoping!!!

[zapcity1]

Why not look for an independent gerbox specialist around your way?

I've used a local company in Suffolk, and they've been excellent.

£4500 is more than the car is worth, but I'm guessing thats a brand new box fitted at a main dealer so understandable.

A repair/refurb should be much more cost effective.

[red baron]

Google your gearbox issue. It seems to be a well documented issue with the AW55 box. The oil gums up inside the solenoids on the valve body which slows the downshifts. I bought my V50 for cheap knowing it simply needing the valve body re-furbed (I think theres a write up in the XC90 section about doing it yourself).

Anyway a refurb cost me 900 Euros from the south of ireland but I believe the price is down to 300 euros now as the same guy got a new 'machine'.

It's a fairly easy job to do for an auto transmission specialist but do not let them baffle you with bull**** about it.

[S60D5-185]

The advice that you have had so far is sound however, I would have the gearbox fluid changed first as this is nearly always filthy and can make a really big improvement.

[Tannaton]

New fluid is the first thing to try, it does sometimes recover a iffy box, especially if the full adaptation is run afterwards.

The next thing to try is the valve body but a refurb unit is £400-£500 and fitting is a messy job, so with new fluid you could spend £800+ and there is no guarantee that it will cure your problems - hence I would err on the side of a reconditioned box with warranty. There is a set up process for fitting and calibrating a new valve body which if not done can lead to more issues.