I called my mechanic today, he gets $149 for the trans flush service - the machine that you hook up to the trans line that flushes out the old fluid until you can see clean pink fluid come through. Someone on this board mentioned they took their 850 to the Volvo dealer and it cost them around $80 - so I called my local guy and he said they charge $90 for the fluid change. They do not have the machine. He did ask me how many miles were on the car (106K) and if the trans fluid was ever flushed out before, which I think it was but I got the car with 97K on the clock so I can't be sure (the fluid is not bad looking). He recommended I just change the fluid myself perhaps twice (dump and fill, then wait a few weeks and do it again until the fluid looks clean). He did not recommend the flush as an "old school" mechanic approach as to not knowing if the trans was flushed out before - his experience is that a flush may unclog clogged areas which may then start to cause problems/leaks on higher mileage cars that may never had this done before. I think I may go with this plan - change the fluid myself.

Thoughts? BTW, where is the trans drain plug, is it easy to get to?

Thanx.

Keith Ruff
95 850 Turbo Wagon