timing belt replacement cost, transmission?

rebel77 · Post by **rebel77** » 19 Jan 2006, 11:10

The local dealer wants $370 plus tax to replace the timing belt.
I have a 1997 glt. Is that a fair price?
He aslo said they recommend a drain and fill for the transmission and not a power flush. I wonder how draining 4 quarts of transmission fluid and replacing does a whole lot? Should I get a power flush? The car has 145,000 miles and I have no service records.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 19 Jan 2006, 20:18

The price quoted could be reasonable or high depending on what's included. If it's for just a belt change, it's high. If it includes a tensioner and idler, it's about right and if it includes a water pump, it's a very good deal. My guess would be that the price includes the tensioner and possibly the idler. At 145000 miles, it's the second belt change and the tensioner is required. The water pump on these engines go a long way. Mine has 186K on the original pump.

The flush verses drain question. I don't think there's any one answer that everyone will agree on. IMO, if the transmission fluid has been changed before on a regular basis (if it's not black and burnt smelling, it's been changed before), I would go for the flush. If the fluid is really ratty looking, the drain might be a better idea. The theory is if you flush the entire tranmission it may dislodge and flush out the "crud" that's supplying the friction for the clutch plates and it may start to slip.

The "official" Volvo recommendation is to flush the tranmission, by disconnecting a transmission line and letting the transmission pump out 2 quarts and then refilling 2 quarts and continue until you have flushed 14 or so quarts through the transmission. The general consensus is to flush every 30K miles. IPD sells a kit for doing a transmission flush and they also have a PDF file with instructions on how to do it.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 19 Jan 2006, 21:29

With older cars and those without transmission flushes on a regular basis, it has been recommended over on the Volvospeed forum to do the drain and fill, then drive the car 500 miles and do it again....repeated 3 or 4 times, then the ATF is nice and pink and you haven't done anything really radical to the tranny, such as disrupting sediments all at once. I think it's a great idea. Either way, for these tranny's to last well into the 200K mile range you need to have fresh fluid in there.

rebel77 · Post by **rebel77** » 20 Jan 2006, 06:59

How hard is it to drain and fill? Is it a matter of undoing a line and letting it drain out?

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 20 Jan 2006, 11:26

Very easy...yes, just take the transmission oil drain plug out and let it drain (it's further back and larger than the engine oil drain plug). Measure the exact amount that came out and add that amount through the dip stick tube with a long slender funnel.

rp850 · Post by **rp850** » 21 Jan 2006, 23:09

I just did this today. You
ll need a 24mm wrench to take the drain piug out. I got about 3.75 quarts out. IT is helpful to have a gooseneck funnel and some way of measuring how much ATF you've drained. Be careful not to overfill.