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Please Help... 1999 v70 transmission problem

posted by  someone claiming to be Chris on  Sun Feb 17 09:22 CST 2008 [RELATED]

Hi guys,

Hoping I could get some feedback on what I'm hoping isn't a catastrophic tranny problem in my 1999 v70 (non-turbo) (4speed), 96k miles.

I went for a drive to do some errands (for us a 60 mile trip). Had a couple of stops-- all through which the car was running beautifully. We came to a stop at a red light, idled for a couple of minutes, and when the light turned green, I stepped on the gas-- only to get a revving engine. I thought I'd slipped it into neutral, but to my horror, it was in "D". I tried shifting through the gears, but no luck. My wife suggested turning the car off, and starting again. Although doubtful, I did this, and was able to get into gear and travel about 100 feet to park at a mobil station. The problem then showed up again, and I was unable to get anything but revving.

I thought to check the fluid-- always keep a quart on hand... it loked OK, but I added half a quart anyway (what the heck). Nothing.

I also thought it might be a "winter mode" problem... I tried every possible gear combination I could think of with winter mode on. Nothing.

I'd also heard somewhere (perhaps on bay 13) of some transmission shift interlock part that tends to go-- I had fiddled with this while waiting to be towed, and had tried the vigorous back and forth movements on the shifter (came quite naturally with my state of mind at the time).


I got the car towed (this was noon EST. today), and the tow guy is going to be calling around to see if he can find someone who works on volvos.

Does anyone have any ideas? I would really appreciate some insight! I've never had any problems with the car since we bought it a couple of years ago. We've gone 20k miles with no hint of transmission problems.


Many thanks in advance!







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    Please Help... 1999 v70 transmission problem

    posted by  someone claiming to be ksg on  Sun Feb 17 14:09 CST 2008 [RELATED]

    Are you saying the car acts like it is in neutral even when in drive? Or is it in fixed 3rd gear (safe mode) in which case it will take off very slowly.

    Is the check engine light on and/or upshift arrow (if your car has one) flashing? If so the codes set are likely to be revealing. If the trans fluid is not burnt, discolored or smelling bad, I'd bet on a technical issue such as a bad connection, etc.

    Is there any history - replacement of PNP switch, removal of dash, accident, etc., that might contribute to something not having been put back properly then coming loose?

    The shift interlock won't let you go out of park unless you have your foot on the brake.








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      Please Help... 1999 v70 transmission problem

      posted by  someone claiming to be chris on  Sun Feb 17 23:11 CST 2008 [RELATED]

      Hi ksg... thanks for your reply.

      The car acts like it's in neutral, even though it's in drive. No matter the revs, there is no motion. There were no lights flashing-- so I didn't even think to scan for codes (I carry a scanner). I flushed the trans. myself just about a year ago, and the fluid smells basically like fluid.

      The car is free of major work and accidents, as far as I know... the "interlock" switch I was referring to, I think is actually the PNP switch (sorry about the incorrect terminology). I'm hoping it is the PNP switch, although most of the postings I've read seem to indicate the flashing arrow come with it.

      Thanks for your reply!








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        Please Help... 1999 v70 transmission problem

        posted by  someone claiming to be ksg on  Mon Feb 18 06:32 CST 2008 [RELATED]

        This really doesn't add up somehow. When you engage any gear, D, 2, 1 or R is there no response of any kind at all? Like a change in the engine idle? Does it act like the gear selector is not even connected to the trans? Do the backup lights work when you select R (a crude test of the PNP switch)? Does the car start only in neutral or park (another crude test)? You could engage the gear lever to its different positions while having someone watch to see if the cable moves at the gearbox.

        If no response whatever it seems like the torque converter would have to be transmitting no power - and it's hard to see how that would happen unless it had burned up somehow. But never say never!








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          Please Help... 1999 v70 transmission problem

          posted by  someone claiming to be chris on  Sat Feb 23 13:53 CST 2008 [RELATED]

          Thanks for your input...I finally have an update!

          Had the car towed to a transmission guy-- at least he's done transmisions for the past 30 years exclusively.

          I suggested the PNP switch (I actually supplied him with one), but he never went so far as to put it in.

          He hooked it up to diagnostics, but found no codes (I also had checked with my scanner)

          He drove it around for a couple of days (it seems to be running now) in an effort to produce some sort of code... to no avail.

          He told me the existing PNP switch was working fine, but he suspected that the filter was clogged, and it wasn't a serviceable tranny. He aslo said there were particles in the fluid (had a blue-brown look) I had flushed this myself using bay13 method about 15k miles ago. He also said he heard a suspicious noise from the transaxle.

          I had him flush it, then drove it home (70miles). It seemed to shift fine, except for what I'd describe as "a bit" of hesitation between 2 and 3. I figure I'll drive it... if the tranny is on the way out, it won't be long, but is it possible I just overfilled it/ it overheated?!

          Oh well...








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      Please Help... 1999 v70 transmission problem

      posted by  Rule 308 on  Sun Feb 17 19:37 CST 2008
      Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
      last visit: Tue May 8 09:20 CST 2012
      [RELATED]

      Kind of unusual but it sounds like your trans is smoked. I do not do a great deal of them but every now and then I will get one. I had a customer come in a few weeks back that was getting their second trans in 8 years. First one I put in was a factory remaned unit and it went 8 years and took a crap. The cost of the trans alone was in the area of 2200.00 so they opted to have me put in a used trans for considerable less.

      Mark








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        Please Help... 1999 v70 transmission problem

        posted by  someone claiming to be chris on  Sun Feb 17 23:14 CST 2008 [RELATED]

        Mark,
        Thanks for the reply--- what's a fair price for a rebuilt tranny installed (although I'd really prefer a PNP switch problem!)






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