Hi there, I've got a 1994 960 sedan and ever since I've owned it the car has given transmission problems. Whats happening is whenever I start slowing down for a stop light the transmission acts like it doesnt shift out of gear. Half the time I have to shift into neutral while slowing down otherwise RPMs drop to almost a stall and the whole call shakes (like what a manual would do if you didn't use the clutch when slowing down). Also, while driving around town (35-45 MPH) I noticed the trans seems to be constantly "searching" for which gear it wants to be in. More often than not it ends up in third or sometimes fourth gear at 35 O.o Very odd.. Anyway, I had a mechanic check the fluid the other day and he said its dirty and kinda burnt smelling. Now I know that these Aisin transmissions are next to bulletproof so I doubt that trans is dead. Any suggstions where to start? This appears to be a common complaint on here! Think a fluid change will help to start?

You need to flush the trans, look in the FAQ here and get directions to do the job. I would use a cheapo off brand fluid, drive it for a couple of thousand miles and then reflush and use Mobil one.

You should feel a difference right away.

I think what is happening is also what I experienced, is the fluid gets tired and the torque convertor lock up does not release as it should. Fresh fluid seems to remedy that problem.

DanR '94 964 356,000 miles (122,000 on the new engine)
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DanR

Hey, thanks for the info dan. I assume you reccommend the Volvo trans flush porcedure (the one through the cooler lines) of course? A couple shops around here offer a "power flush" which I am weary of because I'd imagine that'd wreak havoc on the old seals and gaskets in the tranny.. Should I take it specifically to a Volvo shop or can I take it somewhere like an AAMCO transmission or some other little transmission shop? Thanks!

Dear 1990_740_16v,

Hope you're well. You should flush the tranny yourself, unless you're in a place, where doing work on your car is: (a) absolutely prohibited (some "gated" communities) or (b) too dangerous (drug thugs settling scores) or (c) infeasible due to lack of any work space.

The term "power flush" is marketing fluff. The machine simply has tanks, to supply fresh fluid and to collect used fluid. As the tranny pumps out the old fluid, gravity is all that is needed to supply fresh fluid. Even if the flush machine has a pump, the fresh fluid flows down the filler tube and into the pan. From there, the tranny's pump draws it. Thus, pump pressure doesn't matter, because the tranny's pump is between the flush machine and the tranny's internals.

What does matter, is that the amount of fluid is correct: over-filling is bad. So is under-filling.

Hope this helps.

Yours faithfully,

Spook