Transmission shops

Ralph3 · Post by **Ralph3** » 11 Oct 2012, 12:23

Does anybody know of a good transmission shop north east of Dallas. Plano, McKinney, and Rockwall would be good choices and close to me. 2001 V-70 T-5 has some rough shifting and a 2-3 shift flair at times. Is this due to the valve body wear?

mbreed · Post by **mbreed** » 11 Oct 2012, 15:06

Hard to be sure. Those valve bodies always seem to go bad first. AAMCO?

Post by **jblackburn** » 11 Oct 2012, 15:27

Never ever ever ever go to AAMCO. RUN.

2-3 shift flare - have you installed the B4 solenoid cover to correct this issue?

Post by **precopster** » 11 Oct 2012, 15:28

Replace B4 servo cover (cost $22 for part from IPD Volvo) then readapt gearbox through Vida/Dice and perform drive cycle and reset fluid counter. Drain & refill with Mobil 3309 ONLY.

Transmission shops may not even know what I'm talking about and may not even have a scantool that can put the AW 55-50SN gearbox into adaptation mode.

Search forums for AW55-50SN

Preferably use an independant Volvo shop that knows exactly what I'm talking about.

Most early valve bodies respond well to above work unless solenoids are extremely stuck or valve body has too much debris in the veins.

Don't ask Volvo dealers for an opinion as they always say replace at a cost of $4,000 plus. That's what my dealer said I needed then I found info on this forum. Many other owners out there with shift flares that have almost disappeared by doing the above. Good luck

Post by **jblackburn** » 11 Oct 2012, 15:29

^what he said. Changing the fluid ( a drain and fill at a time) may alleviate the rough shifting altogether as well.

Ralph3 · Post by **Ralph3** » 12 Oct 2012, 12:24

Thanks for the help guys. I have done 3 drain and fills with Mobil 3309 in the last 12000 miles. Should I have another drain and fill after replacing the B4? I will change out the B4 Servo and get the transmission reprogramed. I need to have the stop-netural removed too.

Post by **jblackburn** » 12 Oct 2012, 12:39

I don't think it would hurt to do another. That stop-neutral feature is mostly what kills these transmissions. I hope yours can still be saved.

Post by **precopster** » 12 Oct 2012, 15:35

+1 on the stop neutral. If you can instruct a dealer to do the cover and the flash upgrading as well as the drive cycle this may save it. Changing fluid without resetting Fluid Counter is a waste. If you can fund a Vida/ Dice unit just get the stop neutral done at the dealer and DIY the rest.

They may not agree that it will help but in my case the harshness is all but gone in my 2000 V70 non turbo which has just completed another 9 months/ 12,000 miles and shifts better in the last month than it ever has. To give you an idea of the extent of harshness I sometimes felt a neck brace was needed because of the 3-2 bangs. The flares from 2-3 actually slowed the car's speed and made it unsafe.

I used an Australian fluid called Nulon Multi Vehicle Synthetic Fluid and I feel it may have helped free the solenoids.