what do I do with this car

60cents · Post by **60cents** » 06 Feb 2013, 20:45

OK guys, I've a 2001 XC70 with a bad tranny. It is out of the car right now. The car has 212000 miles and nearly every thing has been replaced except the engine. Brakes, suspension, tires, shocks are new as is the angle gear ( replaced last year). The drivers seat has a wear tear on the lower back and it is ruby red metallic. All of the miles have been highway. My mechanic who pulled the tranny says it will cost $3 grand to rebuild the tranny. I looked at an engine and tranny from a same year car, both still mated together. The price was $1700 and my mechanic says it will cost another $2500 to stick it in. That includes a new timing belt water pump and front and rear main seals. I think that is a little high but to do that makes the cost of repairs $4 grand. The body is absolutely straight and the paint looks like it just came from the factory. It needs a new windshield.

My choices are to sell it like it is and take what I can get putting that towards a newer XC70.

Rebuild the original tranny and sell it for some thing and buy another.

Go the engine tranny replacement putting $4 grand it it. If I do that I pretty much have to drive it for the next 10 years to get my money back.

Somebody give me some advice

Post by **vjaneczko** » 08 Feb 2013, 08:30

Tough call.

If you're passionate about the car itself – as most of us are at this site - , then do the repairs. Keep in mind that at 12 years old, it’ll probably start to show signs of needing additional repairs such as valve stem seals, lifters, hoses (and that includes vacuum, power steering, radiator, oil and tranny hoses), delta link bushings, etc., not to mention rust, faded paint and nicks & scrapes. These repairs can add up quickly, even when you’re doing the repairs yourself. Have a mechanic do the work and your numbers can double. Of course, it would be financially easier if you could perform the repairs yourself, but you’d also have to put a lot of time into it. The learning curve is somewhat easy, compared to other cars, but you can learn a ton from this site and others.

You can also think about buying a new – or newer - car. What would your monthly payments be for a different car? Is that number greater or less than the repair costs of the XC?

It’s a hard decision to make for anyone. Good luck and let us know what you decide.

Post by **xHeart** » 08 Feb 2013, 11:48

A recently discovered everything in life is a mix of extraordinary genius and naive competence, and it was often difficult to tell which was which.

I am not worried about the cost of your fix, but rather...

Post by **jblackburn** » 08 Feb 2013, 11:57

Drop a piano on it. Collect insurance. Buy new car.

Any close friends that are mechanics? If you're having to rely on someone else to put in a used tranny, this car just isn't worth it.

Post by **chrism** » 08 Feb 2013, 13:10

Unless the donor car is one of your own or you are absolutely sure you have a good picture of its history, I see a lot of risk in buying a used 2001 tranny due to their reputation for failure. The problem here is that no matter how you go about getting it back on the road, even if you end up with a good running car the value of the car doesn't justify the cost of getting it there - especially concidering the stigma surrounding the 2001 MY.

Post by **precopster** » 08 Feb 2013, 15:23

You DON'T need to use a '01 tranny for this car. In fact if that used unit you are eyeing is from an '01 and hasnt been rebuilt I would steer clear of it. Also if you put in a used engine/trans assembly without splitting the assembly and replacing the rear main seal you might as well not bother at all.

Anything later and preferably over '02 will bolt straight in. In fact if the valve body is the issue with your unit an '03 valve body can be wired in with the use of an '03 solenoid connector/loom.
I just purchased an '01 XC with a faulty trans and am about to go through this process. Mine looks to be valve body related as gear positions are not clear and trans is under load when in neutral. The car drives forward but has no reverse. Reverse also loads the engine but doesn't move. Even park jerks the car forward.

What were your symptoms?

60cents · Post by **60cents** » 18 Feb 2013, 09:59

Thanks for the comments.
You all pretty much echo my thoughts.
I bot a 2005 XC70 to replace the old one but I still have to do something with the old one.
I'm thinking to put a used tranny it it and sell it like it is with disclosure.
I'll get something out of it that I can put towards the newer car.

I still have a question. I understand that if I put a different tranny in I will need to take it to a dealer to have the control unit flashed. Anybody else know about that

Post by **vjaneczko** » 18 Feb 2013, 12:06

The control unit for the tranny? I'd think you'd be able to take it out of the old car and install it in the new one - but I'm clueless.

Post by **precopster** » 18 Feb 2013, 13:37

Just swap all sensors on newer trans for original ones (and PNP) and you should be OK.

Check on Volvospeed for more info as this sort of thing hasn't been documented here yet.

Post by **xHeart** » 21 Feb 2013, 20:46

Another good source is volvoxc.com. There is ample discussion on transmission issues, software, various repairs etc.

Precopster asked, I quote "what were your symptoms?