XC70: Gearbox - Transmission Jolts when put into "D"

Tatsfield · Nov 29th, 2018, 13:54

I really did try to search for this subject but I'm not a fan of this forum's search engine. No match for automatic transmission jerk, clunk or jolt!

So my problem is this, as the car mileage approached 50K I decided to start a minimal regime of sump dump and refill on my AW Geartronic box. Since the car was going in for its annual Volvo dealer service to extend the Volvo Assist and upgrade ECU software, I asked them to change the oil in the gearbox. Now "coincidentally" the box has started to jolt when moving the selector from "P" or "N" to either "D" or "R" This is most apparent when manoeuvring to park. Worse, it doesn't always do it! Can these symptoms be caused by low oil level? Should I ask the dealer to check the oil level and adjust it if it's wrong?

Has anyone experienced this sort of fault with the AW Geartronic box and if so, what did you do to correct it? I never liked this gearbox but was content to put up with it if it worked but if it's going to fail at 50K, this may be the end of XC70 ownership.

apersson850 · Nov 29th, 2018, 16:17

Has happened a couple of times for me. Not in conjunction with any oil change, though. They have just made it better.

The solution that has worked for me is what I call "backyard adaption". It goes like this:

Let the engine run in idle.
Move the gear selector from P to D.
Let the car roll a few meters, then go to N.
Let the car stop, by using the brake if necessary.
Move the gear selector to R.
Let the car roll a few meters.
Move the gear selector to N.
Let the car stop, by using the brake if necessary.
Move the gear selector to D.
Go to step 3.

Considering that you are in Britain, your back yard may be too small for this. If so, keep the brake pedal pressed when going to R or D, so the car doesn't move.
If you rotate through this cycle ten times, it usually helps. If it hasn't helped after 20, you can give up. This will not help you.

The oil change can make the gear box work so differently that it takes the controller a while to figure out how to handle it.

seanc · Nov 29th, 2018, 20:58

Tatsfield - when was your car last in the dealer before this trip?
It could be a TCM software update has also been applied that is aggravating this problem, or perhaps they reset the adaptations and it's in learning mode. When was the work carried out?

Tatsfield · Nov 30th, 2018, 00:52

Gearbox oil change was done on 10th October but jolting did not start until a couple of days ago.

I love DIY so I'll try apersson850's routine tomorrow if I can find a suitable road on which to do it.

apersson850 · Nov 30th, 2018, 08:45

The jolting has happened on my car a few times, not at all related to any maintenance or whatever. It just looks like it's the TCM's continuous adaption algorithms that have gone awry.

The "backyard adaption" procedure has worked for me each of these few times.

Tatsfield, if you don't find a suitable place, just come visit me in Sweden. We have plenty of room for you to do it here! I'll even offer you a beer when you are ready.

Spike56 · Nov 30th, 2018, 18:34

Just to throw a complete spanner in the works....my S60 developed this and has been looked at by Volvo, and by a transmission specialist. Volvo said they don't'fix' gearboxes they either replace or go to the said specialist. I was living with it. Took the car for it's winter check....... Problem gone for the last 3 weeks!

Now, whether they did something or I did something I have no idea!
I did drive using the manual system on the way to the garage and it seemed to drag in 1st. Related? Gremlins? Not a clue.

Shinjuku · Dec 3rd, 2018, 18:30

In my experience you are ok not letting the car move. Just hold your foot on the brake and cycle the car between drive and neutral, counting to five before moving the stick each time. Same between drive and reverse. 20 of these for each and it should come right.

It seems to happen to my car when I'm a bit trigger happy with the stick. Doing a three point turn in the middle of a busy high street for example can sometimes upset the shift smoothness.

Tatsfield · Dec 4th, 2018, 09:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shinjuku

In my experience you are ok not letting the car move. Just hold your foot on the brake and cycle the car between drive and neutral, counting to five before moving the stick each time. Same between drive and reverse. 20 of these for each and it should come right.

It seems to happen to my car when I'm a bit trigger happy with the stick. Doing a three point turn in the middle of a busy high street for example can sometimes upset the shift smoothness.

That is very interesting. This jerkiness always seems to happen to my XC70 after rapid parking shift changes from D to R and back again very fast to get the car out of danger zones. I tried the "Swedish" transmission exercises but I just couldn't find a suitable road on which to do it without finding another car behind me when I wanted to stop and go into reverse. I will try the static method.

apersson850 · Dec 4th, 2018, 14:58

I don't do it on the road, I do it in my back yard.

Shinjuku · Dec 5th, 2018, 07:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shinjuku

In my experience you are ok not letting the car move. Just hold your foot on the brake and cycle the car between drive and neutral, counting to five before moving the stick each time. Same between drive and reverse. 20 of these for each and it should come right.

It seems to happen to my car when I'm a bit trigger happy with the stick. Doing a three point turn in the middle of a busy high street for example can sometimes upset the shift smoothness.

Apologies. Poor drafting. That should have read
"Same between neutral and reverse"

Nov 29th, 2018, 13:54	#1
Tatsfield Premier Member Last Online: Yesterday 10:10 Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Poole	Transmission Jolts when put into "D" I really did try to search for this subject but I'm not a fan of this forum's search engine. No match for automatic transmission jerk, clunk or jolt! So my problem is this, as the car mileage approached 50K I decided to start a minimal regime of sump dump and refill on my AW Geartronic box. Since the car was going in for its annual Volvo dealer service to extend the Volvo Assist and upgrade ECU software, I asked them to change the oil in the gearbox. Now "coincidentally" the box has started to jolt when moving the selector from "P" or "N" to either "D" or "R" This is most apparent when manoeuvring to park. Worse, it doesn't always do it! Can these symptoms be caused by low oil level? Should I ask the dealer to check the oil level and adjust it if it's wrong? Has anyone experienced this sort of fault with the AW Geartronic box and if so, what did you do to correct it? I never liked this gearbox but was content to put up with it if it worked but if it's going to fail at 50K, this may be the end of XC70 ownership. __________________ 2012 XC70 SE Lux Polestar 230 bhp D5 Auto Oyster Grey Last edited by Tatsfield; Nov 29th, 2018 at 14:05.

Nov 29th, 2018, 16:17	#2
apersson850 Premier Member Last Online: Apr 17th, 2024 21:40 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Traryd View Photos By: apersson850	Has happened a couple of times for me. Not in conjunction with any oil change, though. They have just made it better. The solution that has worked for me is what I call "backyard adaption". It goes like this: Let the engine run in idle. Move the gear selector from P to D. Let the car roll a few meters, then go to N. Let the car stop, by using the brake if necessary. Move the gear selector to R. Let the car roll a few meters. Move the gear selector to N. Let the car stop, by using the brake if necessary. Move the gear selector to D. Go to step 3. Considering that you are in Britain, your back yard may be too small for this. If so, keep the brake pedal pressed when going to R or D, so the car doesn't move. If you rotate through this cycle ten times, it usually helps. If it hasn't helped after 20, you can give up. This will not help you. The oil change can make the gear box work so differently that it takes the controller a while to figure out how to handle it.

Nov 29th, 2018, 20:58	#3
seanc Member Last Online: Apr 17th, 2024 20:20 Join Date: May 2011 Location: East Cambs.	Tatsfield - when was your car last in the dealer before this trip? It could be a TCM software update has also been applied that is aggravating this problem, or perhaps they reset the adaptations and it's in learning mode. When was the work carried out? __________________ 2017 V60 D4 Geartronic

Nov 30th, 2018, 00:52	#4
Tatsfield Premier Member Last Online: Yesterday 10:10 Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Poole	Gearbox oil change was done on 10th October but jolting did not start until a couple of days ago. I love DIY so I'll try apersson850's routine tomorrow if I can find a suitable road on which to do it. __________________ 2012 XC70 SE Lux Polestar 230 bhp D5 Auto Oyster Grey

Nov 30th, 2018, 08:45	#5
apersson850 Premier Member Last Online: Apr 17th, 2024 21:40 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Traryd View Photos By: apersson850	The jolting has happened on my car a few times, not at all related to any maintenance or whatever. It just looks like it's the TCM's continuous adaption algorithms that have gone awry. The "backyard adaption" procedure has worked for me each of these few times. Tatsfield, if you don't find a suitable place, just come visit me in Sweden. We have plenty of room for you to do it here! I'll even offer you a beer when you are ready.

Nov 30th, 2018, 18:34	#6
Spike56 Master Member Last Online: Yesterday 23:04 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Orpington	Just to throw a complete spanner in the works....my S60 developed this and has been looked at by Volvo, and by a transmission specialist. Volvo said they don't'fix' gearboxes they either replace or go to the said specialist. I was living with it. Took the car for it's winter check....... Problem gone for the last 3 weeks! Now, whether they did something or I did something I have no idea! I did drive using the manual system on the way to the garage and it seemed to drag in 1st. Related? Gremlins? Not a clue.

Dec 3rd, 2018, 18:30	#7
Shinjuku Junior Member Last Online: Dec 26th, 2019 13:20 Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Billericay	In my experience you are ok not letting the car move. Just hold your foot on the brake and cycle the car between drive and neutral, counting to five before moving the stick each time. Same between drive and reverse. 20 of these for each and it should come right. It seems to happen to my car when I'm a bit trigger happy with the stick. Doing a three point turn in the middle of a busy high street for example can sometimes upset the shift smoothness.

Dec 4th, 2018, 14:58	#9
apersson850 Premier Member Last Online: Apr 17th, 2024 21:40 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Traryd View Photos By: apersson850	I don't do it on the road, I do it in my back yard.

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