XC70 2001 Transmission Problems

ptbauer · Post by **ptbauer** » 30 Dec 2009, 19:46

For the last month my 2001 XC70's transmission has been acting up. The engine revs up to 4 - 5,000 RPM and then slams into gear. It does this between 22 - 25 mph and again between 35 - 40 mph. I took it back to the dealer, and they did a software upgrade on it. That didn't fix the problem, and in fact made things worse. About a week after the upgrade the "Check Engine" light came on; a few days after that the car just stopped shifting at all - and the "Transmission Service Required" message appeared in the message box. I took it to another mechanic right away, who drained the transmission and said the fluid was black and burned-smelling, and that he found metal filings attached to the magnetized cap of the transmission fluid resevoir. He said it's the electric valve body, and that those are a problem with XC70s. He flushed the transmission and said I should bring it back in a month for another flush - and start saving for either a new car or a new transmission (at $4,600). What should I do, other than get a second opinion? BTW the car is still acting up - just today it revved and slammed into gear between 22 mph and 25 mph, and then again at 27 mph. It's riding rough and clearly something is wrong. But what?

Post by **JDS60R** » 30 Dec 2009, 19:59

Without opening the unit or having it on a computer I would say either you have a sticking valve or severe internal damage (rare).

A qualified shop should be able to add some lubegaurd red or appropriate cleaner to remove the gummed up old fluid from the valve.
http://www.lubegard.com/~/C-112/LUBEGAR ... Protectant .

If it needs a new electronic valve solinoid then a qualified transmission shop can do that quite affordably as well.

Do not wait on this - go to a transmission shop that can plug into the trans computer so yu canknow what is going on and get estimates on fixing it (or do it yourself)

If you just changed the battery you may just be experiencing the relearn procedure. If not - get to a transmission shop. The slamming into gear hurts the transmission

ptbauer · Post by **ptbauer** » 30 Dec 2009, 22:13

Thanks - the battery has not been changed.

I'll take it to a transmission shop asap. For now I'm not driving it.

What would explain, however, the burned, black transmission fluid?

Post by **JRL** » 02 Jan 2010, 05:56

Do your research on 2001 trannies, they ALL go bad at some point.
You have done all you can, you will need a new transmission