2002 S60 About to swap transmission Solenoids, advice?

[daverdfw]

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.

Yeah I saw how the Omega tool opens them up. I am hoping that the improved design and components of the Rostra will help make things a little better. I have read great things about them, hoping they can help salvage this transmission on this car.

[SuperHerman]

I just did this on my 2001 XC70 with 180k. My B4 servo was intact, and I changed my tranny fluid twice since I bought it with 140k. Still I had some shifts and thumps. Nothing bad, just starting. I used the TransGo Shift kit and rebuilt everything, using all their parts. Also you need to order a valve body gasket set if you do this. REUSE the one that is glued on to one of the plates. Replace all others. I messed up the first attempt and had to redo it. I placed a check valve where a check ball was suppose to be. I STRONGLY suggest you take note of where the check balls come from - the layer is what is important. You will understand when you review the TransGo notes - look at these before you start. NOTICE where it mentions check ball/valve. Then it will make sense. After placing these correctly I installed it back in, refilled, flushed again, and all worked with out issue. It has been 2k miles without any issues. If your tranny fluid looks good, I suppose you can just do the solenoids. But you are not far from doing it all, just a dozen bolts to take off VB. Take out the cooling fan, airbox not necessary, but helps. Follow the other posts, it is not difficult. Just follow TransGo instructions as to placement and your notes. I cleaned mine in my sink and then lightly coated with tranny fluid to avoid AL corrosion.

[daverdfw]

I just did this on my 2001 XC70 with 180k. My B4 servo was intact, and I changed my tranny fluid twice since I bought it with 140k. Still I had some shifts and thumps. Nothing bad, just starting. I used the TransGo Shift kit and rebuilt everything, using all their parts. Also you need to order a valve body gasket set if you do this. REUSE the one that is glued on to one of the plates. Replace all others. I messed up the first attempt and had to redo it. I placed a check valve where a check ball was suppose to be. I STRONGLY suggest you take note of where the check balls come from - the layer is what is important. You will understand when you review the TransGo notes - look at these before you start. NOTICE where it mentions check ball/valve. Then it will make sense. After placing these correctly I installed it back in, refilled, flushed again, and all worked with out issue. It has been 2k miles without any issues. If your tranny fluid looks good, I suppose you can just do the solenoids. But you are not far from doing it all, just a dozen bolts to take off VB. Take out the cooling fan, airbox not necessary, but helps. Follow the other posts, it is not difficult. Just follow TransGo instructions as to placement and your notes. I cleaned mine in my sink and then lightly coated with tranny fluid to avoid AL corrosion.

it looks like that kit mainly fixes the solenoids, which I am doing by getting the Rostra solenoids in there. Does it repair anything else on the valve body itself?

[SuperHerman]

Yes - it repairs a number of other items (or at least claims the parts they supply do - I say this because I only have 2k miles on my rebuild - time will tell). Do a search for TransGo SK AW55-50 and locate the instruction manual. Read through it and you will see what parts are updated and what is involved.