m46 tranny issue

msunkenberg · Post by **msunkenberg** » 16 Oct 2006, 07:11

i just picked up a 91 740 turbo. it runs great but as i have been driving it i have noticed a tranny issue.

when moving, it shifts great, both up and down. whats it doesn't like is to shift from nuetral to first after its been in gear and driving (cold or right after starting, it will shift fine). its really hard to go into first from nuetral. but when i'm slowing down i can down shift into first fine. it does seem to be worse when the car has been running for a while.

i did some research on this online and decided to change the tranny fluid yesterday. i put in ATF type F and it shifts a bit better but its is still not perfect.

when i drained the tranny, there was some metal on the drain plug but i have no idea what a normal amount of metal shavings is (i did take a picture). it seems that i can now go from neutral to second easier and i seem to be able to go from nuetral to 3rd, to 2nd to 1st everytime. sometimes it even goes into first.

i also noticed that the clutch seems to be fully engaged when depressed minimally.

could this be a clutch adjustment issue (seems unlikely because it shifts between gears fine) or is this a worn tranny issue? if it is a worn tranny issue, if its not beat on should it maintain at its current state? i have found a used local M46 but would probably rather wait a few months before swapping it in as it just started to get cold in new england.

thanks for any thoughts,

mike s

Post by **billofdurham** » 16 Oct 2006, 12:23

This could well be a clutch adjustment issue. Cable operated clutches should have the free play checked every12,000 miles or annually, something which is often overlooked.

As the clutch wears gear changing becomes harder, especially into 1st when the vehicle is stationary as the box is at rest.

For free play measurement see https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/chat/p ... php?t=8541. It is the same on the 740 as the 240.

Bill.

msunkenberg · Post by **msunkenberg** » 16 Oct 2006, 13:20

i thought it might be a clutch issue, and while i was under there yesterday i forgot to check that. i spoke to a mechanic today and he said this car has a hydralic clutch and would be self adjusting? i had my mechanic go through it before i bought it and he seemed to think the clutch was good. the clutch doesn't slip at all when driving and you can romp down on the gas pretty hard when shifting with no slipage.

it goes into a first fine when its first from nuetral fine shortly after i turn it on, it seems to be worse after i crank it around a bit.

it does seem better today, and i think later this week i am going to have my mechanic drain it again (i did it but didn't take off the overdrive cover) and take off the over drive filter and refill it with the redline MTL.

thanks for the reply.

wojeepster · Post by **wojeepster** » 16 Oct 2006, 18:18

my 88 240 does the same thing. Gets worse as it warms up. Volvo recommends synthetic for trans (i bought their trans book) I just shift into 1st when it is moving 1mph or so and it slides in. If that is what it likes that is what I will do.

msunkenberg · Post by **msunkenberg** » 16 Oct 2006, 19:51

thanks for the reply, how long has your 88 done that?

it drives fine once its going, but i just want to make sure its not something that will suddenly get a lot worse? (like at a toll booth)

i have just been down shifting before i come to a stop and then leaving the clutch in. either way the tranny needs to come out to fix it so i guess i can do this for now.

wojeepster · Post by **wojeepster** » 17 Oct 2006, 15:43

I let my son use my 240 for 6 months and he is hard on cars. I think he wore the syncronizer ring (it does have 250.000mi). I would like to find a spare trans so I can rebuild. He also bent my tail pipe in 3 times. He will not bend it again, I won't lend it to him! The 240 finally conked out (bad ignition switch) I towed home 200 miles and fixed, I am never letting go of it again. Installed autometer oil pressure gage and voltmeter on pods mounted on the a pillar. They are perfect there and you are aware of them out of the corner of your eye. Set both gages to read verticle under normal conditions, anything different you notice immediately. He is busy driving a very beat up 740 (my wifes) (If it dies I rob the tranny from it.)