2001 V70 Auto-trans woes

Solidar · Post by **Solidar** » 13 Sep 2017, 15:47

Hi, I was just looking for some advice as to what I should do about this. I recently purchased a used 01 v70 with around 185k on the clock. Now my main concerns with it, is that the transmission seems to overheat after driving 20-30 minutes, symptoms with harsh shifts between first and 2nd, and then slipping between 2nd and 3rd but only occasionally. I wanted to address the obvious overheating issues, by piping in an aftermarket cooler. I've already done one drain and fill, and the fluid is still pretty dirty so I was going to do another one in a few hundred miles. I just wanted advice as to what I should do from here. I'm not sure if the start/stop software has been updated on this particular car yet as well. If I have to do a rebuild at some point in the future I also dont mind as kits are cheap and so are junkyard transmissions.

01_Nautic_V70 · Post by **01_Nautic_V70** » 13 Sep 2017, 15:56

I've not encountered any issues with the stock trans cooler in a 2001 V70 T5. There's a port on the valve body that opens and closes to allow cooler flow. Perhaps get the car hot and check to see if you have good flow at the cooler supply port?

As for rebuilds and junkyard transmissions, keep a few things in mind. First some of the failures in these broke parts not included in rebuild kits or spun bushings that need to be remachined. Second, junkyard trans are cheap but it is increasingly likely that the replacement trans will be almost as bad as what you have. You can only use a 2001-02 for your 2001. I considered myself lucky to grab one with "just" 122K on it a few months ago. And when you buy used, you really don't know much about how it was running when it came into the junkyard.

The swapout is not an insignificant job. Have time and tools and maybe a friend or two when it comes time for that.

Post by **abscate** » 13 Sep 2017, 16:14

I would get going on that rebuild if you arent put off by it. The 2001 is so special, it has its own thread here for transmission trouble.

To quote Jim..

"Dont buy a 2001 unless it runs perfectly"

01_Nautic_V70 · Post by **01_Nautic_V70** » 13 Sep 2017, 16:23

abscate wrote: ↑13 Sep 2017, 16:14 I would get going on that rebuild if you arent put off by it. The 2001 is so special, it has its own thread here for transmission trouble.

To quote Jim..

"Dont buy a 2001 unless it runs perfectly"

If he has a (early symptoms) failing 2001 trans, I'd skip the rebuild and proceed to finding a good used one. The 2002 I just bought was about the same cost as a good rebuild kit. And that kit would not have included the broken backing ring or spun bushings in the 2001 I had. I actually spent as much on new fluids, torque converter and odds n' ends as I did on the used transmission.

Just my 2 cents.

Solidar · Post by **Solidar** » 13 Sep 2017, 16:25

01_Nautic_V70 wrote: ↑13 Sep 2017, 15:56 I've not encountered any issues with the stock trans cooler in a 2001 V70 T5. There's a port on the valve body that opens and closes to allow cooler flow. Perhaps get the car hot and check to see if you have good flow at the cooler supply port?

As for rebuilds and junkyard transmissions, keep a few things in mind. First some of the failures in these broke parts not included in rebuild kits or spun bushings that need to be remachined. Second, junkyard trans are cheap but it is increasingly likely that the replacement trans will be almost as bad as what you have. You can only use a 2001-02 for your 2001. I considered myself lucky to grab one with "just" 122K on it a few months ago. And when you buy used, you really don't know much about how it was running when it came into the junkyard.

The swapout is not an insignificant job. Have time and tools and maybe a friend or two when it comes time for that.

Any idea where this port might be located, and if its able to be cleaned out, or if it has a replaceable part? The fluid I drained the first time was pretty dirty, so I may be able to assume that the port is clogged/gunked up with crap.

Solidar · Post by **Solidar** » 13 Sep 2017, 16:27

01_Nautic_V70 wrote: ↑13 Sep 2017, 16:23
abscate wrote: ↑13 Sep 2017, 16:14 I would get going on that rebuild if you arent put off by it. The 2001 is so special, it has its own thread here for transmission trouble.

To quote Jim..

"Dont buy a 2001 unless it runs perfectly"
If he has a (early symptoms) failing 2001 trans, I'd skip the rebuild and proceed to finding a good used one. The 2002 I just bought was about the same cost as a good rebuild kit. And that kit would not have included the broken backing ring or spun bushings in the 2001 I had. I actually spent as much on new fluids, torque converter and odds n' ends as I did on the used transmission.

Just my 2 cents.

The reason I'd rather a rebuild vs buying another used transmission is so I could gaurentee it was taken care of from the get-go, I understand ill be spending the same if not more on a rebuild kit, the trans, fluids-etc.

01_Nautic_V70 · Post by **01_Nautic_V70** » 13 Sep 2017, 16:34

Solidar wrote: ↑13 Sep 2017, 16:25 Any idea where this port might be located, and if its able to be cleaned out, or if it has a replaceable part? The fluid I drained the first time was pretty dirty, so I may be able to assume that the port is clogged/gunked up with crap.

The port in the valve body is at the lower left of the block (when installed in the car and facing the engine bay)

It's in the bottom left corner of the valve body

: Valve Body; Valve Body.jpg (56.27 KiB) Viewed 2250 times

Here's where that port interfaces with the transmission

: Trans interface; Trans interface.jpg (189.76 KiB) Viewed 2254 times

01_Nautic_V70 · Post by **01_Nautic_V70** » 13 Sep 2017, 16:37

Solidar wrote: ↑13 Sep 2017, 16:27 The reason I'd rather a rebuild vs buying another used transmission is so I could gaurentee it was taken care of from the get-go, I understand ill be spending the same if not more on a rebuild kit, the trans, fluids-etc.

A perfectly understandable position if you have other transportation while this is going on.