Anyone know about Volvo autoboxes?

[155V6]

I've been looking at Volvo C70s for a while,& have decided I'd like a T5 with an autobox.However,I've noticed a few being sold as spares or repairs,due to problems with the boxes.Does anyone have any experience of these going wrong,I'm guessing there won't be any cheap fixes & I may be better off getting a manual?

[Minimad5]

Are these Geartronic ?

[Minimad5]

If it is a Geartronic, most failures are down to lack of maintenance, as stupidly volvo *pretty much* said they are sealed for life units.
Solenoids (B4 Valve ?) can fail, and the special fluid Jws3309 if i recall, is expensive (£12/ litre) , and you can happily piss away a good 12+ litres if flushing and filling the system, it gets expensive.

Just my two pennith worth.

P.s:
Also be weary of ones that state gearbox flushes or refills, as alot of garages just chuck in any old ATF

[robinmasters]

If it is a Geartronic…

How do you identify which ones aren't?

[xtriple]

When I had my 2003 V70 auto, I got so paranoid about the gearbox from reading the forums that I sold it the day it hit 100.000 miles (actually it was 1-2.000 over that but it doesn't sound so good    ) as they apparently, self destruct at that mileage. Mine actually did a couple of the warning signs (dropping out of drive when warm at idle, flaring sometimes changing to second) and that along with the central locking playing up and a couple of other things meant it was time to say bye.

 

The gearboxes can and do go horreneously wrong and cost money, more money than the car is worth by a fair margin. Go on the Volvo fumrums and read up, there may be solutions by now.... though I doubt it!

[155V6]

When I had my 2003 V70 auto, I got so paranoid about the gearbox from reading the forums that I sold it the day it hit 100.000 miles (actually it was 1-2.000 over that but it doesn't sound so good    ) as they apparently, self destruct at that mileage. Mine actually did a couple of the warning signs (dropping out of drive when warm at idle, flaring sometimes changing to second) and that along with the central locking playing up and a couple of other things meant it was time to say bye.

 

The gearboxes can and do go horreneously wrong and cost money, more money than the car is worth by a fair margin. Go on the Volvo fumrums and read up, there may be solutions by now.... though I doubt it!

There's a cheap T5 on eBay at the moment,the seller says the box has started playing up.I asked what it was doing,& they mentioned dropping out of drive.I think that'll be one to avoid 

[Lukas]

My thankfully long-gone 1999 S80 2.4 auto had it´s first gearbox at ~ 210.000km. I had it flushed and this must have been the first time ever because the oil that came out of it was dark and smelled horribly. I think it drove a bit better after this procedure if I recall right. My mechanic told me its up to maintainence and how the former drivers drove with it. If they drove it hard with a lot of kick-downs, it will disintegrade a lot faster. And the more power the engine connected to the gearbox has, the earlier the gearbox gives up. 

[xtriple]

Bring back the good old BW 35/65 I say! Used to soldier on for ever, slushing away all the power as they went. All these modern shitheaps with bloody 'efficient' autos - it'll never catch on I tell thee!

 

:)

[wuvvum]

Yep - my 164 has a BW35, never given me any problems, even when it's been sat for over a year.

[cms206]

Both my Volvo autos have ZF 4HP22s... did have an AW 'box in the other 940 but all my other autos were ZF.

[Minimad5]

It's a shame really, as the AW50/55 is quite a nice and smooth gearbox.

This thread reminds me, mine needs a flush !

Quite concerning, the only local gearbox specialist has never heard of 'that' fluid..... DIY it is.

[RichL]

Don't think the 800 series C70 had Geartronic boxes. Will be AW50/55, I always thought they were pretty reliable.

[xtriple]

U seriously considered taking mine in to Volvo for a gearbox oil/filter change. The price they quoted made me change my mind very rapidly! The fluid alone was something eye watering like £25 a litre and it needs gallons of the stuff to flush.

 

Mind you, that's Seymour Howell in Newton Abbot - big shiny premises, huge carpark, prices to make your bim pucker and so utterly shit that Volvo will not let them be a 'proper- dealer!

[Junkman]

I know that a Ovlov ZF 4HP22 would work a treat in my Rover P6 V8.

Thats pretty much all I have to know about any shiny shit fom China, thank you.

 

Questions?