I am looking at purchasing a 2001 V70 with 56k miles. However, from what I have read, they have major transmission problems. Did Volvo ever fix this problem?

Stay on top of your fluid and I think you shouldn't have any problems despite the inherent flaws in the design/implementation of that transmission.

Apart from real mechanical abuse I think good fluid will prevent nearly every problem people have with transmissions. And I don't even know how you'd introduce mechanical abuse now that the shifting is electronic... I don't know how much control the computer has vs what input you give it from the shifter.

Transmission fluid has a pretty tough life, serving as the lubrication, pressurizing the hydraulic systems, cleaning, and cooling. It's pretty remarkable stuff when you think about it.

With this in mind, it's pretty easy to see why you'd want to change this stuff often and check it very often. Not that I've had the opportunity to see /that/ many cars, but every 850/S/V70 I've checked had black trans fluid - which BTW is not good. You're asking for trouble keeping that stuff in there.

Changing the fluid is not hard to do, and it only costs ~$100 for the fluid. Do it before you have problems. Do it as soon as the fluid starts to turn colour or smell. Do it on a regular schedule, something like 50K miles/5 years. DO IT NOW!!!

Klaus - just because I'm curious - where would you install a trans oil cooler if you were to do such an operation?

The only place where I can think of finding enough room off-hand would be down low in front of the rad, just behind the lower part of the air dam.

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1998 V70 AWD Turbo 190k+

Excellent advice. I can't believe people who won't do basic simple maintenance like change fluids. It's cheap even if you take the car to a mechanic. It's definitely cheaper than the alternative of replacing the failed component.

Aftermarket tranny coolers can be placed in front of the condenser at the bottom of the cavity behind the grill for best cooling. Or hang it down behind the bumper where it would be exposed to the small grill opening on the driver's side.

There are some who have the secondary cooler thermostat controlled, so it allows the fluid to warm up in the winter.

Klaus
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Common sense trumps a PhD

Not really. It is inherrent in the AW trannies, especially if you don't come to a complete stop when shifting from R to D, D to R.
Volvo, from 1993 to 2003, literature said the trannies never needed to be flushed, a "life time". Well, a life time turns out to be anything past factory warranty or 50K miles. So a flush every 50K miles will help the tranny last a little longer :)
For those towing campers, a separate cooler would be a wise investment.

If the V70 you are looking at has always been maintained at a dealer, beware, the dealer only goes by the "book" so it has only had oil changes. With the low mileage, it probably has a lot of carbon buildup and sludge. It also has the first year of the ETM which could raise its ugly head. The timing belt probably needs changing soon, eventhough the "book" says 105K intervals, because of the manual tensioner not being reliable in 1999 and 2000.

Klaus
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Common sense trumps a PhD

Thanks for the information. I previously owned a 1998 S70 GLT. The transmission went at 220,000 miles which I don't consider too bad. However, I read that the V70s trannys fail before 100k. Is the V70 without the turbo or AWD any better? I suspect both put a strain on the drive train.

Here is what I would strongly recommend that you have checked out before you purchase this V70.

Take it to a reliable transmission shop and have them perform a glycol test.

This is a test to determine if you have any glycol (engine coolant) contaminating the transmission. If you do, even small amounts, can destroy your transmission and result in a very expensive replacement.

What causes this is there is a transmission cooler that is built into the radiator. Many of the Volvo radiators have leaked coolant into the transmission cooler resulting in a failed transmission.

Volvo is reported to have redesigned the radiator but once you have coolant present in the transmission fluid, you will be forced to replace the transmission (and the radiator). Good luck, Fred.

I like this idea! A very good check. My 01 V70 T5a has 100K Miles and no problems. Changed the fluid at 70K (when I learned of the issue), and again at 100K. Will now do at 33.3 K intervals. Mine still shifts as good as new. I've been using 3309 I get on line, but just bought 2 cases of Toyota type 4 at the local dealer for $3.39 a quart last Thursday!

Jerry
01 V70 T5a

The early 5 speed trannies were a bother. Volvo has upgraded the software and increased the reliabililty. 2002 and later were much better.

IIRC, the older red block auto trannies also had problems and they only had a 3 speed, with a troublesome overdrive.

Klaus
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Common sense trumps a PhD