Manual transmission problem

[jantel]

Recently I am begining to suffer severe problems in getting my manual V70 D5 into 1st or reverse from standstill (worse when cold) I evenm have to roll down the drive way to get it into gear, 6 months back the local dealer (Hapstead Gatwick) did solve the problem which has now returned out of warrantee period.

They claim all that they did was to remove the gearbox and clean the splines that enter into the clutch plate, this time around they say a new transmission is required, but they cannot tell me why, as it's now out of warrantee Volvo have offered to pay 20% but thats still 2000.00 GBP way over my budget.

I now plan to remove the transmission myself and investigate to find the cause - has any one else come across this ?

Terry

[pfeener]

99% certainty your problem if in the clutch and not the transmission. The clutch is either not fully disengaging due to the hydraulic clutch system not working correctly or the clutch itself is dragging even when it's fully disengaged. Being low on brake fluid for the hydraulic clutch would cause this, but I can't believe the dealer would miss something so obvious.

The reason it only shows up in 1st and reverse when the car is stationary, is because when the clutch doesn't fully disengage the transmission input shaft is still turning and the output shaft is held stationary by the wheels. The transmission syncros won't let the gears engage in this condition. If you had an older tranny with no syncros in reverse, it would grind the gears when you tried to put it into reverse. The reason it will go into 1st when you start the car rolling is because when the wheels are turning at the right speed the output shaft to the tranny will also turn and when the speed of the output shaft and the input shaft match the syncros will let the gears mesh. You can do the same thing without even touching the clutch pedal. Start the car and roll it at 2-3 MPH with the engine idling and you can slip it right into gear without touching the clutch. After you get rolling shifting through the other gears is easier because the input and output shafts are now turning. I'll bet it's easier for you to upshift than down shift.

This is an easy problem that the dealer should have picked up right away. I would change dealerships and I certainly wouldn't have a new tranny installed. Change the clutch assebmly and throw-out bearing.