I picked up this 1992 non-turbo 740 Wagon recently. Thanks to all who offered me advice on buying it...or not.

The seller gave me a large file with all the receipts from its purchase. I see very little work done to the transmission over the years...mounts, etc but I did notice the recent replacement of the overdrive solinoid and relay. The transmission fluid is clean, fresh and full. I think this has the AW70 transmission. So, here is what I am experiencing. The transmission seems to be a bit late in shifting, it seems to clunk into and out of gear. As I take my foot of the gas it seems to shift down quickly somewhat like a jake brake. It also seems to be straining at higher speeds and near the transition zone. The only thing I have to compare this to is my old 240 and its transmission seems much smoother on the acceleration and deceleration to me than this wagon. It has occured to me that at 93,000 miles the diveline U joints may be going and this may be the clunk that I am feeling...but not hearing. I feel a clunk when I put the transmission in gear but I do not actually hear a clunk. Am I headed down the wrong path? I have not been able to get under the car for a look do to a physical disability but I have been keeping a careful eye on the parking spots as I pull out and I see no fluid drips. Any advice I can obtain on the trasmission would be appreciated.

When a U-joint goes bad, it is usually the little roller bearings in the yoke that get dried out and thus there is space in there.

Hre's my test: Get the car close beside a tall smooth wall, like in the alley behnd a store, Get about 2 feet from the wall. Driver's window down.

With the engine running at idle, foot brake on tight, shift into reverse. Then quickly move to Drive and listen for the clunk. Do it several times, R to D to R to D, etc etc.

Each shift reversal reverses the loading on the U-joints, and if there is slack it shows up as the clunk.

The test does not point at which U-joint is bad. I usually assume they all are.

Sometimes a hard shift is due to loose "innards" on the tranny. I don't know if it's bands or clutches or something. In an up shift, the bands and clutches energized to be in the lower gear must release, then the bands and clutches for the higher gear are energized.

If that change-over is not instantaneous, while the lower gear is disengaged and before the higher gear is engaged the engine speed can rev up a good bit.
Then when the higher gear gets engaged, there is a "whack" due to high engine speed.

Good Luck,

Bob

:>)

Oh, I thought I would add that based on the receipts I was given I see the rear muffler and tailpipe were replaced in 2006 but I see no evidence the front muffler was replaced. I am hearing an exhaust sound that is rumbling through the floor that may be masking any transmission noises. I am fairly certain I will find the front muffler is going to need replacing when I get under this car. Any chance the exhaust leaks are making the transmission shift late? Doubtful, I know, but I my 240 drove SO much better after I replaced the exhaust system that I wonder if that might also be a culprit.

Check the kickdown cable to make sure it isn't seized and that it is adjusted (covered in the 700/900FAQ).

I don't think the exhaust leak is related to the shifting problems. Cat-back exhaust replacement is probably cheapest in the long run-- if you fix the front muffler and the stuff behind it is aftermarket, you will probably only get a year or two more out of it.

Good luck!

--
Herb Goltz, Aurora, Ontario, Canada '92 245 140K mi, '92 945t 210K mi