V70 T5 Tranny Troubles

VolvoLvr · Post by **VolvoLvr** » 06 Apr 2018, 11:07

Well, we're still working on possible solutions and where to get the money needed. In the meantime, GF's curiosity finds a head-scratcher . . . The 9th digit of the VIN# is 8. Wikipedia shows that "8" is associated with an AW42. Yet, the metal label on the tranny that's in the car clearly states AW55-50SN. Is Wiki correct/incorrect? Could an AW42 come with the vehicle at manufacture, then an AW55-50SN be put in? Are the two interchangeable?

Nautic - $500 delivered?!? Sweet deal!!!

01_Nautic_V70 · Post by **01_Nautic_V70** » 06 Apr 2018, 13:09

I think the VIN decoder may be wrong. Check this one:

http://new.volvocars.com/ownersdocs/200 ... n2001.html

The 2001 would have had an AW55-50SN in it from the start.

The $500 delivered cost seemed like about the right ballpark, saw a couple in that range and that was only about 8 months ago. All in, it was less than $1,000 to put a low miles 2002 transmission into my 2001 and I hope to get another 100,000 or so miles out of the car.

Post by **abscate** » 06 Apr 2018, 13:32

s Wiki correct/incorrect?

Mt T5 M56 comes up as an ASN55/50 automatic according to Wikipedia

Fail.

VolvoLvr · Post by **VolvoLvr** » 10 Apr 2018, 20:01

Got it. I'll check back in once the money comes and we start work. Thanks!

Post by **tomvv11** » 15 Apr 2018, 00:17

Try the flush first off.
I have a 2002 V70XC with 179K on it that I got at 104 K. At 120K the tranny started slipping, doing the revvvvvvWHAM going around corners as it downshifted 3-2 or 2-1. Did the full flush with 12 qts of Mobil 3309, which made it better, decreasing the frequency and intensity of the slip/slam. Did it again at 140K, same again. At 160K, I had the programming checked and the "tranny training" performed by an indy mechanic. Those times and the most recent flush at 178K were preceded with SeaFoam TransTune. Right now it is good again, barely slipping, but I'm vigilant around every corner and slowdown, feathering the gas until I feel it catch. Tired of the vigilance, I'm looking for a lower mileage XC, but would rather fix and keep this one, as it has assorted IPD fiddles and new suspension everything. The flush seems to free up the solenoids for about 15K until it starts to slip again. I could go on flushing the tranny for about $80 total every 15 thousand miles until I'm 100 years old and not spend as much as a rebuild, but each acceleration after a deceleration is followed by a moment of anxiety. Will it slip this time, and how badly?
Can a 2003 to 2007 tranny go into a 2002 or is there some compatibility issue?

Post by **firstv70volvo** » 15 Apr 2018, 09:50

Hi Tom, have you considered replacing the valve body? If you do it yourself you can install a brand new valve body (and solenoids) for a little of over $500. Based on the symptoms you've described the problems sound valve body/solenoid related.

The valve body replacement part is a GM ACDelco replacement part (made by Aisin Warner) and less than $500. ACdelco 24228787

There's a couple of minor changes to make the new valve body compatible with Volvo and wire harness wires(4) that need to lengthened or harness replacement since two of the linear solenoid connectors on the newer style valve bodies are now on the bottom instead of the top so longer wires are needed. The changes to the GM valve body to make it Volvo compatible are a shift solenoid swap (S2) and removal of a control valve spring. Very simple tasks.

If you think you'd be interested in doing this I can provide more details what all is needed and how to lengthen the harness wires. Let me know.

I've had this new valve body part in my car for over 10K miles now and it's performing great. My car has never shifted better.

01_Nautic_V70 · Post by **01_Nautic_V70** » 16 Apr 2018, 08:51

tomvv11 wrote: ↑15 Apr 2018, 00:17 Can a 2003 to 2007 tranny go into a 2002 or is there some compatibility issue?

The AW55 transmissions in 2001-2002 Volvos are specific to 2001-2002 Volvo. I believe the three age groupings were:

2001-2002
2003-2004
2005-2007

Post by **SuperHerman** » 16 Apr 2018, 13:33

I believe the determinative factor is the valve body version for Volvo to Volvo swap. The valve body will either have no letter stamp code or an "A", "B" ... on it. You need to see if the letters match. I have heard "suggestions" that with software updates one can get a later lettered valve body to work, but this is unconfirmed. My old early 2001 had no letter, while others with 2001s have reported they had an "A" so I don't know if a year grouping is exact. Best approach is to remove the valve body cover and inspect for what letter you have.

If the letters do not match I believe you can still swap out only the solenoids and leave the rest of the valve body undisturbed.

Another option, hopefully someone with greater knowledge can advise to feasibility, would be to use the newer transmission, swap over the old valve body with the newer donor transmission solenoids transplanted to the old valve body. Not sure if it will work, but it would be something to investigate if your old transmission has issues other than the valve body.

01_Nautic_V70 · Post by **01_Nautic_V70** » 16 Apr 2018, 15:00

SuperHerman wrote: ↑16 Apr 2018, 13:33 I believe the determinative factor is the valve body version for Volvo to Volvo swap. The valve body will either have no letter stamp code or an "A", "B" ... on it. You need to see if the letters match. I have heard "suggestions" that with software updates one can get a later lettered valve body to work, but this is unconfirmed. My old early 2001 had no letter, while others with 2001s have reported they had an "A" so I don't know if a year grouping is exact. Best approach is to remove the valve body cover and inspect for what letter you have.

If the letters do not match I believe you can still swap out only the solenoids and leave the rest of the valve body undisturbed.

Another option, hopefully someone with greater knowledge can advise to feasibility, would be to use the newer transmission, swap over the old valve body with the newer donor transmission solenoids transplanted to the old valve body. Not sure if it will work, but it would be something to investigate if your old transmission has issues other than the valve body.

The 2001-2002's had either no revision letter or an "A" on the valve body.

I'm copy/pasting a previous thread reply from precopster as he has quite a bit of experience with the 2001-2002 AW55-50SN as well.

"They are from the same FAMILY of transmissions and LOOK identical. Lots of detail changes that the TCM (transmission control module) can't possibly deal with. A 2002 can't even have a 2003 transmission with the same model number because of those detail changes in TCM programming to match the changes in the valve body design.

I have never heard or read of a poster on any forum successfully using a AW55-51SN where a AW55-50SN was previously fitted.

If anyone can point the OP to a thread where this has been done he would at least have a reliable reference source.

Also you can't rock up at a dealer with your 2004 transmission and ask for 2004 TCM firmware. The main engine computer's firmware will not accept the 2004 firmware as version numbers need to match and be compatible. "

I looked long and hard at trying to get a 2004 or even later into my 2001. In the end, I found a cheap, low miles 2002 and gave it TLC before swapping it into my car. I've yet to find a forum thread where someone tried a later year swap and got it to work a-ok.

Post by **firstv70volvo** » 16 Apr 2018, 17:43

01_Nautic_V70 wrote: ↑16 Apr 2018, 15:00
SuperHerman wrote: ↑16 Apr 2018, 13:33 I believe the determinative factor is the valve body version for Volvo to Volvo swap. The valve body will either have no letter stamp code or an "A", "B" ... on it. You need to see if the letters match. I have heard "suggestions" that with software updates one can get a later lettered valve body to work, but this is unconfirmed. My old early 2001 had no letter, while others with 2001s have reported they had an "A" so I don't know if a year grouping is exact. Best approach is to remove the valve body cover and inspect for what letter you have.

If the letters do not match I believe you can still swap out only the solenoids and leave the rest of the valve body undisturbed.

Another option, hopefully someone with greater knowledge can advise to feasibility, would be to use the newer transmission, swap over the old valve body with the newer donor transmission solenoids transplanted to the old valve body. Not sure if it will work, but it would be something to investigate if your old transmission has issues other than the valve body.
The 2001-2002's had either no revision letter or an "A" on the valve body.

I'm copy/pasting a previous thread reply from precopster as he has quite a bit of experience with the 2001-2002 AW55-50SN as well.

"They are from the same FAMILY of transmissions and LOOK identical. Lots of detail changes that the TCM (transmission control module) can't possibly deal with. A 2002 can't even have a 2003 transmission with the same model number because of those detail changes in TCM programming to match the changes in the valve body design.

I have never heard or read of a poster on any forum successfully using a AW55-51SN where a AW55-50SN was previously fitted.

If anyone can point the OP to a thread where this has been done he would at least have a reliable reference source.

Also you can't rock up at a dealer with your 2004 transmission and ask for 2004 TCM firmware. The main engine computer's firmware will not accept the 2004 firmware as version numbers need to match and be compatible. "

I looked long and hard at trying to get a 2004 or even later into my 2001. In the end, I found a cheap, low miles 2002 and gave it TLC before swapping it into my car. I've yet to find a forum thread where someone tried a later year swap and got it to work a-ok.

I have a 2001 Volvo V70 built in late 2000 and I suspect it originally had a no letter early valve body. Volvo replaced the transmission in 2009 and it had the latest "C" valve body, which worked fine for ~60K miles then began to have delayed garage shifts to drive and reverse so I replaced the valve body with a new "B" valve body (ACDelco part). So my car has had 3 different revision valve bodies and the first two VBs worked for 60-80K miles before some problems have started. When I replaced the latest C valve body with the B version the transmission shifted so well I didn't even do the adapt routine. It's still shifting very well.

From what I can tell from all the service receipts is the transmission software was updated once prior to any of the valve body/transmission changes and has never been updated since.

I also have a ATSG manual for this transmission and they say it's recommended practice to replace eariler valve body revisions with C type and also mentioned that the C and the early no letter VB castings are identical, the only difference is some spring calibrations. They also mentioned the A and B castings are identical with some spring calibration differences. The manuals states the whole valve body revisions can be interchanged but valve body casting sections should not be intermixed with different revisions. Older revision wire harnesses may need to be changed with later revision valve body and the different SLT SLS connector location on the bottom, which required longer wires to reach.

V70 T5 Tranny Troubles

Re: V70 T5 Tranny Troubles (WIKIPEDIA VIN DECODER WRONG)