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a tranny issue? 200 1990

car: 1990 240DL B230F engine, AW70 AT Tranny

Please note, my sister is my mechanic and does all of the work on my car. These are in her words. I posted about this before, but didn't really know how to describe it.

When we first got the car, the transmission would slip badly in low gear, and lug in the rest until the engine got into about the middle of the power-band. I changed the ATF with fairly decent Dextron III type ATF (Dex II no longer available) and the transmission is much happier, but not all the way better. Note: when I changed the ATF it was so bad it looked like old engine oil. . . Yecch. What is happening now is that the engine/transmission sounds like it is lugging until I get above 40MPH or more. It just seems like it is not going into the lowest gear, and perhaps shifting too early into the next highest gear (or not downshifting at the right time). By lugging I mean that the engine sounds like it is struggling, and the RPM's sound like they are in the low end. Additionally, when I'm on the highway, I get no change in engine speed when I turn the overdrive on and off. not at 50MPH, not at 60PMH, and not at 70MPH. The car eats too much gas to take it over 70MPH. . .

What I have done so far on this transmission: I have changed the ATF, and I have installed new bushings in the shift linkage, so the shifter no longer has the slop that it did have.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Rosy








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a tranny issue? 200 1990

How does teh car behave if you manually put teh car in 1st then shift it up as you accelerate. You suspect it is not shifting down into first as you come to a Stop.. Will it appear to shift down if you do it manually?
--
'75 Jeep CJ5 345Hp ChevyPwrd, two motorcycles, '85 Pickup: The '89 Volvo is the newest vehicle I own. it wasn't Volvos safety , it was Longevity that sold me http://home.lyse.net/brox/TonyPage4.html








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a tranny issue? 200 1990

Hi Tony,

I tried shifting the car manually today. It was fine in 1st. In 2nd it was "sluggish"?? Kinda dragging from 20-40mph. Doing what I said earlier. I was street driving, so I didn't go past 40mph.

What about checking the kick down cable? It was suggested on a different forum.

Rosy








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a tranny issue? 200 1990

You can get better info if you SEARCH Kickdown Cable.The basic issue is that the Kickdown cable can rust up and not move correctly when you accelerate. Basically it doesn't tell the Trani to down shift.
The frozen cable doesn't explain the sluggishness of Second gear. Although, as you said, you were not on a highway so it may have been hard to tell.
--
'75 Jeep CJ5 345Hp ChevyPwrd, two motorcycles, '85 Pickup: The '89 Volvo is the newest vehicle I own. it wasn't Volvos safety , it was Longevity that sold me http://home.lyse.net/brox/TonyPage4.html








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a tranny issue? 200 1990

In all that, I saw not even one hint that you are aware of the cable that tells the transmission when to shift. It runs from the throttle spool to the top of the tranny -- called the kickdown cable (scroll halfway down).

Any way you could get your sister to join the fun here? She could be a good contributor and maybe benefit too. http://brickboard.com/RWD
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

Before I got married, I had six theories about bringing up children.
Now I have six children and no theories. (John Wilmot)








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a tranny issue? 200 1990

Hi All,

I have been reading around and it seems the overdrive relay is a common problem in this car. I am curious, can a faulty relay cause my problem of being "sluggish" from 20-30mph?

Rosy








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a tranny issue? 200 1990


Hi Rosy,

No, a faulty OD relay wouldn't cause your car's sluggishness. A faulty OD relay would prevent your tranny from shifting from 3rd into overdrive.

Jim
--
95 855 GLT Sportwagon, 90 244 DL 300k - Gone but not forgotton..








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a tranny issue? 200 1990

Is it possible that the 240 could be in OD most of the time? And just not down-shifting? Could that be why it seems to be sluggish (which is the wrong wording)? I was in my (other) sister's car today, a manual (subaru). When she was in a high gear going slower than the norm for that gear, her car made the SAME sounds my car does. (Perhaps it's STRAINING? I can't find the right word in my head right now). I hope this helps us to figure this darn mystery out.

I ordered a relay (tested and with a warranty). Hopefully it arrives Saturday (coming from San Diego to Berkeley tomorrow via USPS Priority). If this doesn't solve the overdrive issue, I am considering the IPD OD bypass.

Oh and my (mechanic) sister will be checking the kick-down cable this weekend.

Any thoughts on either? PLEASE do share!

I really do appreciate the input and help.

Rosy








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a tranny issue? 200 1990

I lean towards a misadjusted or stuck kick-down cable. If that is the problem, the car won't shift at the correct engine speeds.

I think the term you are searching for is "lugging". The engine "lugs" when it is running to slow in a particular gear.
--
95 855 GLT Sportwagon, 90 244 DL 300k








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a tranny issue? 200 1990

Hi Guys,

Well, my sister adjusted the kickdown cable this afternoon. She drove the car around for about 30 minutes and told me that it all seemed MUCH better to her. The car also accelerates much quicker. I will know over the weekend when I drive her. Yes, I haven't driven her yet. :)

Rosy








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time for the IPD OD Bypass kit 200 1990

Wow, she drives so much better after the kickdown cable adjustment!

I tried a new OD Relay I bought on ebay, but it didnt work so BACK it goes! It drives better with my original relay. I guess the next step is the IPD OD Bypass kit.

Rosy








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a tranny issue? 200 1990

Yeah, I guess I could join up. . .
About the kickdown cable: this is one of those instances where having a manual may have been handy. . .








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manuals 200 1990

Yes, sometimes a manual is enlightening. I remember cars whose transmission shift points would fail because of a holey diaphragm in something called a vacuum modulator. It would also suck out the tranny fluid when that happened!

Welcome.

Because no aftermarket workshop manuals worth a poop exist for the Volvo 740/940, a great compendium of service information got assembled here, online. 7/9 faq list Folks just call it the FAQ*. There are enough similarities between the 240 and the 7/9 series you'll often see entries made by 240 owners.

Paper manuals abound for the 240. I've collected a dozen or so beside the official Volvo literature, and am always glad to share from them. Owners prefer the Bentley, but occasionally the Haynes, Clymer, and yes, even a Chilton can turn up useful.

*Find the FAQ anytime near the bottom under FEATURES, from a "more" dropdown at the top of the page.
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

A baby sitter is a teenager acting like an adult while the adults are out acting like teenagers.







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