2000 s80 t6- Service Transmission Urgent message

Bishopduck · Post by **Bishopduck** » 07 Aug 2010, 11:01

Just the other day while my wife was travelling back from a trip, the car shifted rough and then the 'Service Transmision Urgent' message came up and the check engine light, too. She made it to a dealer in Bakersfield who quickly said that the transmission needed to be replaced. I spoke with the service writer, she said they had determined this conclusion by only plugging the car into thier code computer. They did not inspect the transmission, only trusted the codes they read. Now I have owned this car for 6 years and have done quite a bit of service on it. I live over 200 miles away from the closest dealer and any Vovlo specialists. I have learned not to trust the computer codes alone, one example, about two years ago the coil on cylinder #5 went out, It was obvious that there was a dead cylinder due to the missing, but the computer flashed 3 codes that said the turbos had failed. Turns out that only the coil was bad, it was replaced and turbos checked, nothing wrong with them. So, I do not trust the codes alone without a little mechanical inspection. After I post this, I plan on taking the trans pan down and draining the fluid and seeing what I can. I have not been successful in finding a service manual for this model, but with a car this age, a new transmission may not 'pencil out'. Anyone familiar with this or similar events, please share your insights. Thanks.

Post by **vegasjetskier** » 07 Aug 2010, 14:34

The dealer will probably want $3500-$4000 to put a new trans in. That doesn't pencil out in my book. You might be able to get a serviceable unit from a salvage yard and install it yourself or have an independent Volvo shop do it for a lot less. Here's how to drop the pan and change the filter and fluid: https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... 11&t=20278

Bishopduck · Post by **Bishopduck** » 07 Aug 2010, 15:31

Thanks, Vegas for the reply. Try $6,000 for the dealer to replace the trans, you could here me laugh miles away. Sounds like you are sure that I have a GM trans in the car. If that is true, maybe the local shop is capable of rebuilding it. I will have them take a look into it before a decision is made to replace the trans.
I see on another post that a kit to completely change the fluid is available, IPD I think. Do you know anything about it?

Bishopduck · Post by **Bishopduck** » 07 Aug 2010, 15:34

Thanks, Vegas for the reply. Try $6,000 for the dealer to replace the trans, you could here me laugh miles away. Sounds like you are sure that I have a GM trans in the car. If that is true, maybe the local shop is capable of rebuilding it. I will have them take a look into it before a decision is made to replace the trans.
I see on another post that a kit to completely change the fluid is available, IPD I think. Do you know anything about it?

Post by **mvsuzr** » 08 Aug 2010, 10:41

Unfortunately, transmissions are a weak point on these cars. Maybe the car is too heavy, or the programming is not right, hard to say, but there are a large number of posts on this forum about them. Good information if you have some time, and there are a number of recommendations to help the life of the tranny.

I have had similar experience with the dealer you mentioned. Codes are a great tool, but they don't take the place of knowledge and skill.
There's too much of a tendency to rush a diagnosis and move on to the next problem. Probably a short-term economics solution, but it really hurts business in the long run.

If you need to take the car back to Bakersfield, try All Automatic Transmission repair on Brundage Lane (661-322-2493). They've done two of my Volvos, one when the dealer couldn't find anything wrong ( it would fly into neutral at full throttle, but "there weren't any codes"...).
My '01 S80 T6 was done before I bought it, they did it in 2008 for $2500. Have heard mixed reviews from other people about this guy, but he does fleet services, and he's done right for me.