2000 S70 New shift bushing but still can’t grab gears

[tjmartin317]

I just bought the Snabb performance bushings to fight the shift problem I’ve been having where I can’t grab 2nd, 4th, or reverse. And it’s better than it was but far from perfect.

To highlight the issue with the cable travel, I recorded this little video:



It’s as if sometimes the cable pushes it far enough, and sometimes it won’t. When the car is moving it doesn’t engage into the bottom gears ever and I fear it’s because the engine Mount is shot (which I’ll be replacing tomorrow morning). But with no aftermarket cables available, and my whole shift linkage/connections looking far different than anything I’ve seen in a RobertDIY video, I’m at a loss. Which also sucks because this thing is/was supposed to go on a road trip in two weeks, and I’m quickly running out of time.

Also took pics of the transmission torque bushing, which is probably also shot:

But either way, I’m still thinking something is wrong with the cables themselves that’s causing them to not engage… could also be a different engine mount… could just be a nightmare either way…

All help and advice is appreciated, and needed.

[scot850]

I'm not sure if you have already checked the engine mounts as well? Have any collapsed or the one under the crank pulley separated?

That lower torque mount looks crusty. Try a flat screw driver or small pry bar and try moving it sideways. The smaller bush ends often separates from its mounting rubber flange as the large one can crack through.

Also check you sub-frame mounts for failure. Failed mounts can cause trans misalignments and therefore shift issues not allowing the shifter to move on all plains.

Neil.

[tjmartin317]

At this point in the journey, I’m in the “if it’s a high risk of causing the problem, it has to go. The passengers side engine mount seems easy enough to replace, as does the trans mount (if my skid plate weren’t in the way that’d make it far easier).

As for the subframe bushings… you’re frightening me, as that sounds intensive. To check them, do I need to separate the subframe in any way or just wizz off the bolt and check the gaps.

Speaking of which, IPD makes these inserts, which may allow me to limp the car through this trip. Would these possible help? And does installing them require any sort of significant vehicle/subframe support?



Lastly, let’s say one of the mounts is cooked and the whole engine/transmission assembly has shifted… how do I shift it back? Seems like I’d have to wiggle the whole thing around for a while. All of these things definitely could be failure points. Bumpy dirt tracks aren’t nice to cars…

In a perfect world, the problem disappears by Saturday. I’ve become my Volvo dealers best friend as of late, buying parts left and right. But I appreciate your help.

[scot850]

New mounts should reposition the engine/trans if it has moved at all. As for the sub-frame bushes, they can be viewed from below. Look for separation of the rubber from the metal outer portion.

Good Luck!

Neil.

[tjmartin317]

Adding photos, but yeah, things are pretty cooked.

I have the top and lower engine torque mounts on the way. Need to get the side mounts and possibly subframe mounts… which if it comes to those, I don’t think I can do myself. Watched a video of a guy struggling to do it without removing anything from the suspension or engine, that may be one I have to enlist a professional on… or, at the very least, someone with air tools.



I know it’s a P2 but I imagine the process is the same, or similar.

EDIT: adding two more photos of the front and rear engine mounts. Also looking bad.

[amblerman]

One of the things that I'm most amazed by is your shifter assembly is different that my 1999 (and later 850s.)

yours looks skeletal:

2000.jpg (30.92 KiB) Viewed 541 times

Where as my s70 and ( most? all? ) 850s is enclosed.

1999.jpg (70.14 KiB) Viewed 541 times

I'm just astounded that they would have made a change in shifter assembly design for 1 model year.
2000 was last year of the s70 and I'm just amazed that a "change shifter assembly design" made it on the approved list for the last model year.

[scot850]

That rear engine mount looks like it has collapsed looking at the safety wire is so loose. Front one is not much better. Mount by crank pulley is bad also.

It is hard to tell on the subframe mounts, they do look crusty, but more importantly, they do not look like they have moved. I would focus on the engine mounts and in particular the rear one. Heads up on this one. You have to raise the engine to fit this. Volvo warn NOT to raise by more than 25mm/1 inch as it can cause damage to the drive axles. Also not the rear mount is orientated. There is a pin on the top of it that has to align with the metal top mount.

Neil.

[tjmartin317]

One of the things that I'm most amazed by is your shifter assembly is different that my 1999 (and later 850s.)

yours looks skeletal:
2000.jpg


Where as my s70 and ( most? all? ) 850s is enclosed.

1999.jpg

I'm just astounded that they would have made a change in shifter assembly design for 1 model year.
2000 was last year of the s70 and I'm just amazed that a "change shifter assembly design" made it on the approved list for the last model year.

Oh yes, I’ve noticed this with every Volvo video I’ve watched. So not only are shifter parts impossible to find, there even more impossible due to my alternate design… thank you Volvo, very cool…

[tjmartin317]

That rear engine mount looks like it has collapsed looking at the safety wire is so loose. Front one is not much better. Mount by crank pulley is bad also.

It is hard to tell on the subframe mounts, they do look crusty, but more importantly, they do not look like they have moved. I would focus on the engine mounts and in particular the rear one. Heads up on this one. You have to raise the engine to fit this. Volvo warn NOT to raise by more than 25mm/1 inch as it can cause damage to the drive axles. Also not the rear mount is orientated. There is a pin on the top of it that has to align with the metal top mount.

Neil.

Alright, I have fired multiple parts cannons to see if I can get this all done by Saturday (so that I can partake in a Rallycross event Sunday. Down to the wire, that’s for sure).

I found what has to be a cheap and crap kit on Amazon, just looking at the pictures the quality looks dubious, but if it can survive two weekends of torment then it’s fine: https://a.co/d/60DflDn

I have proper mounts from FCP Euro on the way, front and rear, as well as the side mount.

Now… I’ve seen some videos of these mounts being installed. The top engine mount was easy (finishing that up now). The side engine mount looks easy too, as does the lower trans torque mount… but for the cylindrical front and rear mounts, how difficult are those? You say I have to raise the engine a little, but can’t raise it too much (something about the ball bearings falling out of the CV axels inside the boots?), is that for this job? Or is that for the subframe?

Lastly… and this is the big question… can these be done in a day? I’ll be working all day Saturday trying to cram it in. Fingers and toes crossed we can make the deadline, but if these fix it we’re golden!

Please let these fix it… I’m running out of money

[tjmartin317]

Well here’s a strange problem… going for the last bolt on the engine mount for that little ground wire when I notice:

Hard to tell, but the bolt hole isn’t threaded… I just got this part and it’s supposedly new… anyways, guess I need to helicoil it… anyone know the right size?