I have a 2001 V70 T5. Just bought it. 87K. Quite an adrenaline rush HP-wise compared to my 92 740 wagon...

There is one problem. When I stop at a light, the transmission seems to come out of gear. When I take my foot off the brake, I can feel the tranny drop into first after maybe a second or so. Step on the gas, all is well.

If I step on the gas too quickly, the tranny slams into first gear.

One odd thing I've noticed - if I sit at the red light long enough with my foot on the brake, I can sometimes feel the tranny slip into first before I remove my foot. I haven't done enough research on this yet to determine if it's a constant length of time or what...

This is at least annoying and at worst a potential problem brewing.

Any thoughts?

Vovo has new software that just came out that supposedly is correcting a lot of issues they had with the initial 5 spped auto transmissions. I don't know if this software has been installed in your car. I have or had a 2001 v70 non turbo that Volvo is buying me out of the lease because I went through 2 transmisions within 30,000 miles. They wanted to try the new software, But I told them that this was unacceptable.

I talked to the service manager at lenghth and he told me that the new software corected problems that people were complaining about. Good luck. Mike

RE the software change - I had heard that from someone and mentioned it to the dealer. They told me that there was no software update... I don't know it they don't know that it exists or if I already have it...

I'll have to follow up with the dealer.

I have a 2000 V70 that had similar problems at 100K. It needed to be re-programmed to accomodate for transmission wear and a drain/refill. $150 at the dealer. Solved my problem and still good since it was done 10K ago.

Tom

Flush the tranny to see if this makes a difference...and use sythetic ATF...you fluid could be completely trashed if you haven't flushed it yet (which is much more effective than just a change). Check out www.volvospeed.com as it is really a simple procedure and can make a world of difference in driving and longevity.

Thanks for the message. When I bought the car I did the 90k service and had the tranny fluid changed at a Volvo dealer. I asked about a 'flush' versus a 'change' and they said something to the effect that they don't do a 'flush' unless there is some serious reason to do so. I had told them about this slamming problem. One person thought there might be a software fix, but that turned out to be not the case. So... they 'changed' the fluid, with Mobil/1 ATF that I provided, adding a little more of their own synthetic ATF. The problem remains.

They seemed to think that the cause was deep in the guts of the tranny someplace and that it would cost about $2500 to get at it...

I'm hoping for other ideas...

Thanks.

Well, a "change" of fluid by just draining the case will change only about 30 - 35% of the fluid. If your fluid is brown and burnt smelling and this is all you change, you won't be doing much for it. Most of the fluid is in the torque converter which you can only get out by flushing (takes 12 - 14 quarts to do it fully--how many did the shop use?) I would look at the fluid on your dipstick and if you wipe it with a white napkin or paper towel and determine that the fluid is more brown than pink, I would definately flush it. It should be BRIGHT pink/red. Running on brown fluid means it is burnt and dirty (not uncommon on Volvo's of the year). This is your cheapest route before having it rebuilt if you find the fluid to be discolored.

Dipstick? What dipstick?

I was told that this transmission doesn't have a dipstick.

Imagine my surprise upon hearing that one. Goes against the age-old mission of keeping your fluids topped up.

I looked under the hood and sure has heck I don't see one besides the engine oil dipstick.

Can this be true??