2002 S60 About to swap transmission Solenoids, advice?

daverdfw · Post by **daverdfw** » 21 Jan 2015, 15:10

Have the parts on order, I have an 02 2.4T FWD with the dreaded shift flares and clunky drive. Have done the Servo, fluid and software. This is my last ditch effort to make the car driveable. Has anyone done this on an S60? I have seen the direction on the XC70 which seems similar.

Question for anyone that has done this, did you need to manually adjust the solenoids to tweak them? Or just run the TCM adaption?

DO i need to pull out the airbox and stuff on top? Or just lower the subframe to get to the cover?

Thanks in advance!

Post by **oragex** » 21 Jan 2015, 18:52

This transmission guru talks about it at the end of the video

I heard there are replacement solenoids that don't work well. I would rather buy a properly refurbished original part.

This site also has some interesting information
http://www.sonnax.com/articles/209-AW-5 ... nformation

quietcoolone · Post by **quietcoolone** » 22 Jan 2015, 01:56

daverdfw wrote:Have the parts on order, I have an 02 2.4T FWD with the dreaded shift flares and clunky drive. Have done the Servo, fluid and software. This is my last ditch effort to make the car driveable. Has anyone done this on an S60? I have seen the direction on the XC70 which seems similar.

Question for anyone that has done this, did you need to manually adjust the solenoids to tweak them? Or just run the TCM adaption?

DO i need to pull out the airbox and stuff on top? Or just lower the subframe to get to the cover?

Thanks in advance!

Hi,
I had transmission problems on my S60 that required replacing solenoids. Find my story in this thread (see post #25).
Good luck.

daverdfw · Post by **daverdfw** » 23 Jan 2015, 11:16

Thanks all for the advice, quietcoolone I actually sent you a PM over on the other volvo forum before I read this.

Post by **vtl** » 23 Jan 2015, 18:09

Fix the whole valve body, it wears out as well.

daverdfw · Post by **daverdfw** » 23 Jan 2015, 19:04

vtl wrote:Fix the whole valve body, it wears out as well.

yeah i debated that, this is my last ditch before that. these solenoids would transfer over to a new valve body anyway. Its the typical, fine when cold, then hard sifts and flares especially in 2-3 gear

Post by **vtl** » 23 Jan 2015, 19:51

Depends on how much entertainment you want. 2001 and 2002 were bad years for this car, bad valve body design. Sonnax makes a kit, which services most, if not all, wear points in this VB. Send VB to professional reputable rebuilder, who does them by dozens, has calibration equipment, etc, it would save you a lot of time. If you don't mess things up taking VB out and putting it back, car will drive like new with rebuilt VB.

Think about what would you do if after the whole weekend spent in garage you car becomes barely driveable?

Post by **precopster** » 24 Jan 2015, 15:53

Best factor as to whether it will work is the miles on the car. Over 100k miles and valve bodies don't respond as well to just having the solenoids replaced.

There is some time saving in getting the cover off though that I can share. You can release both trans cooling lines at the radiator and just snake out the line with the cover. Also you have enough slack in the radiator hose to work around it without disconnection and draining of coolant. Also the earth on the subframe has more than enough slack so it can stay on.

I had cover off in 1.5 hrs the last time I did this job because I was chasing a valve body problem and had the valve body oit 3 times when it was actually a worn-through 3rd gear band.

daverdfw · Post by **daverdfw** » 24 Jan 2015, 18:45

precopster wrote:Best factor as to whether it will work is the miles on the car. Over 100k miles and valve bodies don't respond as well to just having the solenoids replaced.

There is some time saving in getting the cover off though that I can share. You can release both trans cooling lines at the radiator and just snake out the line with the cover. Also you have enough slack in the radiator hose to work around it without disconnection and draining of coolant. Also the earth on the subframe has more than enough slack so it can stay on.

I had cover off in 1.5 hrs the last time I did this job because I was chasing a valve body problem and had the valve body oit 3 times when it was actually a worn-through 3rd gear band.

this car is a little over 100k, like 115k.

I will be doing this on a lift, so I think that should help me get it done a littler faster and easier i hope. Did you have to remove any of the upper components like the XC70 writeup? Like the airbox etc.

I also assume that I should be able to replace all of the solenoids from the bottom?

I have a magefine filter i plan on installing as well. I have a VIDA/DICE and will do the fluid reset and TCM adaption..

Have you had to manually adjust the screws on the solenoids ?

Thanks!

Post by **precopster** » 26 Jan 2015, 05:58

I actually rebuilt existing solenoids by cleaning them. I used the ctpowertain kit from eBay. If I were to do it again I would buy the bushings from Omega Machine to avoid them gumming up again. However you will need a special solenoid casing removal tool which opens up the solenoid at both ends to be able to remove both bushings.

The XC70 tutorial is pretty spot on other than what I mentioned.