I’ve written twice before (Oct 02 and Jan 03) about my 1989 volvo 740 transmission problems. I had the transmission flushed Jan. 17 and it worked beautifully without any problems at all until a few weeks ago, when the high pitched whining sound came back. In October and January, the transmission people found rust in the fluid and on the filter. I took the car in May 12 for another flush. This time, they said they found “chunks” of clutch material, which they say is paper in the pan. So they didn’t do the flush. The car is working ok and the high pitched sound is gone. It shifts ok, but I sense a little hesitation from 2nd to 3rd. I had wanted them to do the flush again, which is the reason I had made the apt in May (along with the noise), to buy me some more time. Anyway, they say they’ll do it for me, a bit grudgingly, and that it might make it worse. The transmission guy said that if they flush it now, they might make more of the clutch material to flake off and possibly stop the car much sooner. He said even maybe the next day. Does that sound right, that I’m better off with them not having flushed it, even knowing that the symptoms will come back sooner, since it wasn’t flushed? Or is it worth the chance to flush it since maybe it will last longer?

For awhile I thought it might be cheaper to just get the car flushed every 4 months than to replace the transmission. Now, I see that is probably impossible. As a student, the repair will be on credit. Even though I put in a new volvo radiator only a couple years ago (at great expense) cause the radiator was leaking, water now seems to be getting into the transmission. [My mechanic who put the new radiator in didn’t think there was any problem with the radiator-transmission, when he put it in. He said if the radiator is leaking into the transmission, then transmission fluid would also get into the radiator??]

Anyway, I need to put in a used transmission (thanks for your guidance about that from my earlier posts), and a radiator, plus the 100,000 miles service – costing about $1500 total. A mechanic here (Hawaii) has a used 89 transmission that he will warranty the labor too. So I’m thinking of having him do the work. He used the engine for someone else from the same car. He doesn’t remember how many miles were on the car. In earlier posts, someone said I could put a more recent transmission in my car. Thoughts? Is the old one ok (the same year as my car), given those circumstances?
This volvo mechanic is going to check my car this week to see if anything else needs to be fixed. I’m wondering if I could find another reliable old car to get me through the next two years for the same cost as fixing mine. I’m the original owner of the 740. I love my car, the safety, the hidden trunk compartment, room to carry stuff, etc. However, maybe another smaller car would be more economical.

Your advice about whether I should have the other transmission flush would be appreciated.

aloha,
Katalina