Symptoms: For a week or so the tranny was taking 10 to 12 minutes for OD to engage after starting up and driving. Shifter relay going bad I thought!

My diagnosis: Shifter relay going bad I thought! Went to Pic a Part, grabbed a hand full of relays and tried them.

Reponse: It wasn't the relay.

I then checked the fluid and it was a little low so I added and still not working right.

Then three days ago it starts to not engage from 3rd OD at all.

Within one day it wasn't shifting from 2nd to 3rd!!

Called my local repair shop, whom I have had perform work on the car, and his response after hearing the symptoms was "if it's not leaking fluid, then the tranny has gone south and we can get good used one, will replace all the seals and give you a 90 day warranty." He didn't tell me the price though but I'll still have the work done as I don't want to sell the car.

Should I suggest having the fluid flushed before the big and expensive tranny replacement?

Thanks
Joel

Make sure that the kick-down cable is not stuck.

steve

If you're not certain of the problem's solution, and therefore have to make a guess (even an educated guess), *always* do the cheaper thing first if your guesses have equal likelihood.

So here, you've got a possible bad solenoid, or need a fluid change.

They're probably about equal in cost (unless you get a used solenoid), but frankly the fluid flush is a *lot* easier and less-messy than the solenoid change (personally, I hate crawling under an old, greasy car).

So do this flush first. But because you've got problems and you really want to clean out the tranny, don't be stingy with the amount of fluid you flush -- go at least 18 quarts, to be sure you've rid your tranny of most of the old fluid. Here's why:

http://www.brickboard.com/RWD/index.htm?id=1219054

Good luck.

Check the solenoid first. Do you get the overdrive indicator lamp or not? Can you turn it off with the shifter switch? When you hit the button, do you get a buzzing noise? Sort of a high pitched whine? You said that you changed relays, what about the fuse? Tons of shops are too ready to change out an assembly when there is another cheap fix.

Stickbuilder

Never though to try to turn it off with the stick shifter.

Yes the OD light goes on and off as I press it but no buzzing noise.

Didn't check the fuse as the OD would shift once 10 to 12 minutes went by and it was working. But the new problem of not shifting out of second to third at all made me think it was the internal problems beyond my skill level.

I'll ask them if they will flush it first before doing any serious work.

Thanks

Joel

The OD problem is almost certainly a bad solenoid - I had the exact symptoms; what appears to happen is that the solenoid has become sufficiently aged/sticky that until the tranny warms it up enough, it won't move.

Diagnosis is replace solenoid. It's in a lousy place - you'll really need to drop the tranny a bit to get to it.

The 2-3 thing is not OD/solenoid related. It may or MAY NOT be related ~ don't assume because they occur together that it is related. Try the fluid flush; if it solves the problem, good, if not, you're out a few bucks and a few hours. Consider replacing the tranny yourself, if you're capable - used Volvo trannys aren't hard to come by.

Round here, the junkyards have a 50% off weekend, which is when everybody pulls engines/trannys/whatever big or expensive thing they want.

Best,

Lanval

could be broken cable from passing gear button to tranny.
also check accel cable at engine