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1998 V70 XC Cross country. Trans let go. possibly ECU

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

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Ben850
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Joined: 8 September 2011
Year and Model: 1996 850 R Wagon
Location: Michigan
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1998 V70 XC Cross country. Trans let go. possibly ECU

Post by Ben850 »

I had posted in the Maintenance log.
The engine is running beautifully with the '98 T5 ECU I had installed.

What had happened today has confused me.
After ten miles or so, the transmission became abstract.

To understand what I had done is simple really, I had taken the ECU from a T-5 of the same year which had made the car run well.
The transmission sad no.
If I had utilized the TCM from the same donor would that have been the way to go?

I will dump a new trans in if I have to.
I like the car.
1993 850 GLT , You wouldn't know it.
1996 850 Turbo Wagon White.
1995 T-5R Black. New work in progress.
1998 V70 XC Cross Country White.
1994 850 N/A Wagon Black.
1997 850 Sedan Black.
1996 850R Wagon White.
1997 850 Sedan Red ( not white or black!)

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misha
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Year and Model: '97 850 2.5 20v
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Post by misha »

Was the ecu from a car with auto transmission or manual?
'97 850 2.5 20v / fully equipped / Motronic 4.4 from the factory / upgraded with S,V,C,XC70 instrument cluster / polar white wagon
History of Volvos in the family:
'71 144 S
'73 144 De Luxe
'78 244 DL
'78 244 DL
'79 244 GLE
'85 340 GLS

Ben850
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Joined: 8 September 2011
Year and Model: 1996 850 R Wagon
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Post by Ben850 »

It was auto.

I am going to get the car home and try a drain and fill.
1993 850 GLT , You wouldn't know it.
1996 850 Turbo Wagon White.
1995 T-5R Black. New work in progress.
1998 V70 XC Cross Country White.
1994 850 N/A Wagon Black.
1997 850 Sedan Black.
1996 850R Wagon White.
1997 850 Sedan Red ( not white or black!)

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foggydogg
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Year and Model: '98 V70 R, 97 850 T5
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Post by foggydogg »

The pit road rule back in my NASCAR days was to undo that thing you just did, presuming you still have the original unit. Odd that it ran for a while before becoming unhappy. If it looks like a random unrelated, my 850 turbo scared me once with tranny-failure symptoms but it turned out to be what is sometimes called the neutral safety switch; once replaced it worked perfect for another 50k until a guy tried to put his front bumper through my ribcage.
69 1800s, @500k Death by Rust
94 850 Turbo, T-boned, ambulance for me, crusher for it
97 855 T5, 855 R projects
98 V70R x2, Silver Junkyard rescue, Coral Red
98 V70GLT x2, parts cars
00 V70xc x2, both now dead
62 122s, gone to live in Richmond
56 445 Duett basket project
1950 Studebaker 2R10 flatbed, T9 crashbox

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skloon
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Year and Model: 94 850 95 850 04 S60
Location: Edmonton AB
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Post by skloon »

Nothing to add but I like the concept of an abstract transmission

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abscate
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Post by abscate »

skloon wrote:Nothing to add but I like the concept of an abstract transmission
I think that sounds shifty
Empty Nester
A Captain in a Sea of Estrogen
1999-V70-T5M56 2005-V70-M56 1999-S70 VW T4 XC90-in-Red
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Ben850
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Year and Model: 1996 850 R Wagon
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Post by Ben850 »

I have to add another possibility.
I hag just replaced the radiator and hadn't yet topped off the fluid level.

I did add fluid after the symptoms started. I'm afraid it was too late.
I hope I didn't smoke the trans from too little fluid.

I may have burnt the fluid though.
How much does the Trans cooler in the radiator typically hold?

I will try the drain and fill and cross my fingers.
1993 850 GLT , You wouldn't know it.
1996 850 Turbo Wagon White.
1995 T-5R Black. New work in progress.
1998 V70 XC Cross Country White.
1994 850 N/A Wagon Black.
1997 850 Sedan Black.
1996 850R Wagon White.
1997 850 Sedan Red ( not white or black!)

scot850  
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Year and Model: 2000 V70 R
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Post by scot850 »

Been there and done that. The first time I did a fluid flush on my 850 auto, I forgot to re-check the level before taking it for a run. Like you I nearly had a personal malfunction in the back of my pants when the trans ran rough. Once I got home I found the fluid level was well below minimum. I'm not sure on the quantity in the radiator cooler, but with the pipes to/from I'd say at least a pint.

Hope all it turns out to be is a low level of fluid. Top it up and run a short distance and see how it goes and smell the fluid for burning. If it is burnt, do the trans drain and flush and fill 2-3 times and see what happens.

Wish you luck!

Neil.
2006 V70 2.5T AWD Polestar tune
2000 V70 R - still being an endless PITA
2006 XC70 - Our son now has this and still parked in our garage
2003 Toyota 4Runner V8 Limited
2015 Kia Sportage EX-L - Sold
1993 850 GLT -Sold
1998 V70 XC - Sold
1997 Volvo 850 SE NA - Went to niece in California - Sold
2000 V70 SE NA - Sold

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