2001 S60 24T: Transmission Slips & Shift Lock Problems

still_life_with_monkey · Post by **still_life_with_monkey** » 13 Jun 2008, 19:04

I have an S60 24T which I've had no major problems with in the 6 years I've owned it, save being sideswiped once 2004. The door I got hit with was replaced by the other person's insurance and caused no major problems to the car other then the child safety lock on that door is now permanently on (but I don't have kids and hardly ever is anyone back there so I don't really care too much). It has about 90k miles on it, I purchased it in the US (second owner) but it was manufactured in Gent.

I'm having two problems with:

1. The transmission slips in between gears when I accelerate. This started happening about 6 months ago. It's been setting off the service transmission sensor and I've taken it in twice. My mechanic cannot trace the problem with the computer they plug the car into and says that this is not uncommon with my model. He says it has something to do the computer inside the car and neutral idle but didn't recommend fixing it unless it becomes a major problem. But the slipping is occurring more now so I'm concerned its going to blow the transmission...

How do I fix this without spending a mint on a new transmission? Is it just a computer problem?

2. The shift lock went out today. It won't come out of park. I've already got it into my mechanic. I figure either the solanoid went bad or the coffee I spilled in the shifter yesterday when I stopped hard and suddenly to avoid a collision did more damage then I thought to electrical system. It was not a huge amount and it didn't effect the transmission right away. About six hours went by from the time I spilled it to the time I went to drive and it wouldn't shift out of park. What would cause a delay like that? The coffee? Or did the solanoid just happen to go bad irrelevant of the coffee?

Post by **JRL** » 14 Jun 2008, 06:06

Your machanic is an idiot.
You should have IMMEDIATELY had the tranny serviced and the software updated to remove the stop neutral feature.
Bottom line is that over 60% of 2001 trannies go bad and you do probably need a new one but so the above first and see:
FLUSH the transmission and have the software updated (Volvo dealer)
You may be lucky and save it.....
As for your shiftlock interface, it probably was the coffee, maybe yes, maybe no but it will have to be replaced anyway