Volvo RWD 900 Forum

INDEX FOR 2/2026(CURRENT) INDEX FOR 11/2000 900 INDEX

[<<]  [>>]


THREADED THREADED EXPANDED FLAT PRINT ALL
MESSAGES IN THIS THREAD




  REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

'Whirring' when cold, now that I've flushed my Tranny Fluid 900

I'm not sure what to make of this. I completely flushed my tranny fluid a couple of weeks ago using the oil cooler-return line on the radiator and a 3/8 tubing. I simultaneously refilled the tranny using a tube and funnel in the dipstick tube. I had to shut the car down several times in order to allow the fill rate to catch up to the drain rate. I flushed all 9 quarts (plus some new) out of the car and had it entirely refilled in an hour or so. I later installed a 5/16 magnafine filter on the return line. The tranny runs fine. No real problems and shift seems a little softer now (but kickdown cable still needs adjustment).

The issue is that when I start it up in the morning, or after it's been sitting, the tranny makes this "whirring" noise when I drive. It seems to go away after the whole car and engine has reached normal temperature. It sounds akin to the sound a manual transmission makes in fast reverse. I did not use Mobil1 (too expensive) but used a valvoline durablend ATF that was a bit cheaper than the Mobil but certainly not a mickey-mouse cheapo fluid.

I've put several hundred miles on the car since I flushed it and it's been fine, but this noise bothers me. It wasn't there before I flushed the old burnt fluid. Now it is. Is this a real problem, or just a side effect from using the Valvoline ATF?

--
Volvo #6: all wagons.... 1972 145S, 1976 245 DL, 1983 245 GL, 1986 740 GLE, 1990 740 GL, now a 1995 940...








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    'Whirring' when cold, now that I've flushed my Tranny Fluid 900

    I had this happen to me on my 97 960.

    I had it checked and the t-pan cleaned. No help...

    I drained a little t-fluid and this seemed to help.

    Some here have expressed the opinion that you can have too much fluid without it showing as too high on the stick.



    --
    89 244 (174K); 97 964 (110k)








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    Noise appears to be from engine....weird 900

    Well, I had a chance to listen to the motor idle for a while this morning (it's been really cold the last few days in St. Louis) and I realized that the noise is in tune with the motor and not coming from the tranny. But it doesn't so much sound like an engine noise, but a noise from a bolt-on subsystem. It went away after the car had thoroughly warmed up, but it's kinda weird. I've recently had all my front belts, waterpump, front seals, and timing belt replaced. I'll have to spend some quality time with the car this weekend tracking the sound down.
    --
    Volvo #6: all wagons.... 1972 145S, 1976 245 DL, 1983 245 GL, 1986 740 GLE, 1990 740 GL, now a 1995 940...








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    'Whirring' when cold, now that I've flushed my Tranny Fluid 900

    Pull the filter to see if the noise goes away. I do have to admit that the AW series of transmissions have all sorts of noises: each of my four cars makes a different noise, some when cold, some hot etc.








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    'Whirring' when cold, now that I've flushed my Tranny Fluid 900

    It maybe that the filter is restricting flow back to the transmission pump causing cavitation at the pump, that would be a whirring sound. Try removing the filter to see if problem goes away.
    --
    David Hunter







<< < > >>



©Jarrod Stenberg 1997-2022. All material except where indicated.


All participants agree to these terms.

Brickboard.com is not affiliated with nor sponsored by AB Volvo, Volvo Car Corporation, Volvo Cars of North America, Inc. or Ford Motor Company. Brickboard.com is a Volvo owner/enthusiast site, similar to a club, and does not intend to pose as an official Volvo site. The official Volvo site can be found here.