After reading posts from this site as well as other sites, am feeling very frustrated with the amount of problems on the XC90 transmissions. I own a 2004 XC90 T6 with 65k miles and just had the 60k mile tune-up performed. My family and I were visiting relatives in central Illinois from CO for Thanksgiving and the day before Thanksgiving the transmission felt like it was slipping. Within 20 minutes of driving after the slipping started, the dreaded "Transmission light" came on. The only place in town that would look at a foreign car told us the computer diagnostics were indicating problems with the S2 solenoid. Since we are not close to a large city with a Volvo dealership, they recommended a transmission repair shop locally.
After removing the cover this morning, they found a lot of brass shavings in there. They are still in the disassembly stages so I am not sure yet what the damage is going to be (will know more tomorrow a.m.). I am wondering if anyone else besides, jbseligs post has had success with getting a dealership to replace the transmission that is out of warranty based on what seems like an abundance of problems? I had contacted the closest one to me and they were quoting replacement at $6400 for tranny, radiator and oil cooler (of which I would have to have it towed). The worst case scenario for rebuilding my existing one is around $4600.
Needless to say, I am stranded in Illinois and looking for options.
Transmission Problems
This topic is in the MVS Volvo Repair Database »
Volvo XC90 Transmission problems shared amongst forum members
So here is my tail of whoa...
Bought a 2003 XC90 in June 2005 AND an extended warranty (7years or 100,000 miles). Had many different repairs done under the Volvo or extended warranty. (Also as I found out when I purchased it this car was a lemon law buy back in Calf. for a recurrent oil leak). At about 75K the car started to have trans issues. Took it to the dealer (by now they know me by sight) and they said that they did a test and it showed ethylene glycol in the trans fluid. So they replaced the trans and radiator, the bill was $9989.00. The check out clerk was shocked at the cost and I said would I be here smiling if I was paying for this...thank goodness for the extended warranty. Up to this point the car has had other issues like the front awd drive assembly replaced...the rear awd drive resealed. All told I got over 20K worth of service on the vehicle (99% paid by warranty). SO what did I do...a bought another XC90, a new 2010. Today the check anti-skid/anti-lock brakes message appeared on the new XC90...here we go again....
Bought a 2003 XC90 in June 2005 AND an extended warranty (7years or 100,000 miles). Had many different repairs done under the Volvo or extended warranty. (Also as I found out when I purchased it this car was a lemon law buy back in Calf. for a recurrent oil leak). At about 75K the car started to have trans issues. Took it to the dealer (by now they know me by sight) and they said that they did a test and it showed ethylene glycol in the trans fluid. So they replaced the trans and radiator, the bill was $9989.00. The check out clerk was shocked at the cost and I said would I be here smiling if I was paying for this...thank goodness for the extended warranty. Up to this point the car has had other issues like the front awd drive assembly replaced...the rear awd drive resealed. All told I got over 20K worth of service on the vehicle (99% paid by warranty). SO what did I do...a bought another XC90, a new 2010. Today the check anti-skid/anti-lock brakes message appeared on the new XC90...here we go again....
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Rugbyjones1
- Posts: 1
- Joined: 10 January 2012
- Year and Model: XC90, 2004
- Location: Pennsylvania
2004 XC90 T6 - transmission went at 84k - low coolant, tach racing, difficulty shifting gears... Took to local Volvo Dealer who ran diagnostics. Dealer called two days later stating that Volvo will pick up the cost to replace transmission, radiator, angle bar, etc... All I did was let them know that I saw many instances of this on the Internet. Service manager told me they went through this a lot. Picking car up in 3-4 days ... Hopefully this will last me another 8 yrs.. Couldn't ask for better response from Volvo as they even discounted rental car thru Enterprise.
I have a 2004 XC90 T6 and am finding out that transmission problems are very common in the T6's. I so far have not had any failures at 130,000 mi. and would like to ask if anyone has done a transmission flush on the t6's? Is there a cheaper way than to buy the ATF from the dealer which costs more $$$. Does it use Dexron/Mercon III or Dexron IV? and does it have to be synthetic?
Any info would be greatly appreciated. Fluid seems to look kind of like motor oil not redish like I'm used to.
Any info would be greatly appreciated. Fluid seems to look kind of like motor oil not redish like I'm used to.
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Tonyx
- Posts: 157
- Joined: 13 November 2011
- Year and Model: 2001 XC70
- Location: Michigan
- Has thanked: 3 times
- Been thanked: 8 times
Wanted to post my experience. 2003 XC90 T6 with 125k miles. Merging onto highway the car suddenly goes into 3rd gear, limp home mode. I searched for GM 4t65 transmission specialists around my area. Found a person who has been doing GM transmissions for 32 years.
He completely tore it down and rebuilt it. I'll post all the parts replaced later. I requested that he bypass the radiator cooler(prevent water contamination potential). An air cooler was substituted which was mounted in front.
The car is driving great. It seems to hold top gear longer which should help with fuel economy.
He completely tore it down and rebuilt it. I'll post all the parts replaced later. I requested that he bypass the radiator cooler(prevent water contamination potential). An air cooler was substituted which was mounted in front.
The car is driving great. It seems to hold top gear longer which should help with fuel economy.
2003 XC70 230K and counting..,
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Tonyx
- Posts: 157
- Joined: 13 November 2011
- Year and Model: 2001 XC70
- Location: Michigan
- Has thanked: 3 times
- Been thanked: 8 times
Here are things he replaced/installed during my transmission repair.
- LS overhaul kit
- 2nd (gear clutch) steel (discs) x6
- input (gear clutch) steel (discs) x5
- shift solenoids x2
- pwm solenoid
- oil filter
- final drive ring gear(mine had chip in one tooth)
- 4th clutch hub shaft(mine spline was nearly gone)
- new torque converter(clutch inside is worn)
- Dextron VI x 13 quarts
- trans oil cooler to bypass one built into radiator
The old parts were in a box which was offered for me to take home. I took some pictures as momento.
- LS overhaul kit
- 2nd (gear clutch) steel (discs) x6
- input (gear clutch) steel (discs) x5
- shift solenoids x2
- pwm solenoid
- oil filter
- final drive ring gear(mine had chip in one tooth)
- 4th clutch hub shaft(mine spline was nearly gone)
- new torque converter(clutch inside is worn)
- Dextron VI x 13 quarts
- trans oil cooler to bypass one built into radiator
The old parts were in a box which was offered for me to take home. I took some pictures as momento.
2003 XC70 230K and counting..,
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jetskifast
- Posts: 25
- Joined: 23 April 2012
- Year and Model: 2004 XC90 T6
- Location: San Francisco
Could you post what transmission cooler you had installed.
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outrigger777
- Posts: 73
- Joined: 1 November 2010
- Year and Model: 2006 xc90 1998 v70xc
- Location: Evergreen, Colorado, USA
- Been thanked: 1 time
Quote from Dextrobrick---
"So why doesn't, say the 2.5T have the same transaxle issues as the T6?
The T6 and 2.5T powertrains really can't be compared directly--a) the 2.5T's Aisin Warner AW50 transaxle can't fit in the S80 and XC90 engine bay along with the T6 engine as the transaxle is too wide and b) 2.5T engine isn't as powerful and doesn't produce the surge of high torque at low RPMs as the T6 engine does. So one could argue the 2.5T is too weak to do any damage to a 4T65-E."
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The GM tranny has not been that great in the T6 S80 either. Transmission failures above 120,000 miles are not that uncommon. Not as bad as the XC90, but still disappointing. The T6 does produce a lot of low end torque, but so does the 2.5T---236 ft lbs WAY DOWN at 1500 rpm. The AW50 is just a good transmission. I've done internet searches for threads on XC90 2.5T transmission failures, and can't find any--this transmission is about as bullet proof as you can get. Plus, it has 5 gears instead of 4 gears. The GM tranny only had 4 gears, like it was made in the 1970s, or something. It's just a piece of junk.
"So why doesn't, say the 2.5T have the same transaxle issues as the T6?
The T6 and 2.5T powertrains really can't be compared directly--a) the 2.5T's Aisin Warner AW50 transaxle can't fit in the S80 and XC90 engine bay along with the T6 engine as the transaxle is too wide and b) 2.5T engine isn't as powerful and doesn't produce the surge of high torque at low RPMs as the T6 engine does. So one could argue the 2.5T is too weak to do any damage to a 4T65-E."
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The GM tranny has not been that great in the T6 S80 either. Transmission failures above 120,000 miles are not that uncommon. Not as bad as the XC90, but still disappointing. The T6 does produce a lot of low end torque, but so does the 2.5T---236 ft lbs WAY DOWN at 1500 rpm. The AW50 is just a good transmission. I've done internet searches for threads on XC90 2.5T transmission failures, and can't find any--this transmission is about as bullet proof as you can get. Plus, it has 5 gears instead of 4 gears. The GM tranny only had 4 gears, like it was made in the 1970s, or something. It's just a piece of junk.
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