reverse won't engage; neutral acts as a drive: v70 xc 2001

[bg2128506]

Hi folks, sorry if you are a member of xc70.com forums: I asked the same question there. I am hoping though for more expert opinions.

My car has around 220k miles on it, 99% are highway. I had all kind of problems with it and did lots of nasty stuff to it (last was conversion from 4wd to 2wd due to angle gear failure, around January).
Since tranny has been kind of funky for the last couple of years (flairing, jolting when engaging 1st/2nd gear), I did a transmission flush (with Gibbon's method from xc70 forum) using authentic Volvo transmission oil about 8 months ago.

Last month I was driving one day, and the car jolted madly engaging into 1st from the stop sign, it could not upshift to 3rd (or 4th) revving up to 5k (it felt as the car was in the neutral). Then, after a short stop for coffee, I drove some more: on the 1st the car shacked badly, jolting into the 2nd, etc. Nasty stuff, felt like we were riding a dying animal. I tried the tiptronic - without any improvement. I arrived to my destination then headed back home in the evening: the things were back to normal - smooth shifting, no misbehaving.

Next morning I checked the transmission fluid. Since my driveway is not level, and the fluid read in the cold level zone, I decided to back up onto the road. So I put the car in reverse and it did not move. Tried Drive - it worked. Reverse again - it did not.

So I anyway added the last 1/2 quart of oil I had - just in case. That did not help, reverse still did not work. I could roll the car back only with the engine off.

I got various ideas from different folks: neutral position switch, valve body, and the tranny itself. The VIDA scan did not produce any tranny codes (no neutral position switch failure). One mechanic said that was the the valve body (he saw that on a Mercedes), and respectful Volvo shop doubted it was a neutral position switch. The tranny shop owner said it was definitely mechanical and he can fix it for $3300.

I have been driving the car for the last month, forward only, trying to avoid being caught in the situations requiring backing up. I can't tell the shifting is exceptionally smooth, but much better than it was 6 months ago. Also, when you start the car while in parking, it jumps forward few inches. Same on braking at the stop sign: it may hesitate stopping and before the complete stop it my jump few inches again.

To wrap up the story, I am getting rid of this car (purchased 2001 v70 t5 manual), and I would like to to try to put new neutral position switch - just in case, otherwise the car sells for nothing.

But perhaps you may think of any other problems, not that entirely dramatic as the transmission mechanical failure?

Thanks, bg.

So what I got now:
- "Drive" works perfectly smooth now. I did test drive around neighborhood; switched probably up to 4th gear; all smooth and sweet.
- "Neutral" is no longer neutral. If I depress the gas pedal, the car drives happily as if "Drive".
- "Reverse" is dead. I mean I did not even feel that clunk when the gear typically engaged. So I assume the transmission just does not even attempt to shift to reverse.

So my initial impression of having a "transmission death" - a purely mechanical issue - now seems rather a possible mix of mechanical and electronic issues, since "Drive" works but "Neutral" and "Reverse" do not. Like "Drive" is stuck and computer does not command the transmission to shift.

It looks that all transmission related issues have low degree of confidence when it comes to "remotely" identifying the problem - might be the tranny or might be the valve or solenoid.

I'll take the car tomorrow to the shop to read the codes and have a look, but I will appreciate the community advice and opinion.

Cheers, Sasha.

[jerseykat1]

Was this ever resolved? I have the exact same symptoms. 01 v70 xc cross country.. My car feels like it's in drive even when in park. No reverse and it drives in neutral.

[btrux0611]

My 02 s60 T5 has the same issues too! I was also told Valve Body.
Ive spent all day online and finally found some people here that had the exact same problem.
Well guess what i already have a brand new valve body and im going to install it very soon and check back here and post the results .
Also to note, i did read somewhere else that it could just be a bad seal on top of the valve body. So ill check its condition first when i pull the valve body off.

[Homebrand]

Find the posts by user precopster.
He has valve body solenoid repairs - which I've done and posted on- but he also has other relevant posts about these issues.
Good luck with the valve body change over. I fixed my solenoids and if I can do it, anyone can!

[jerseykat1]

i just installed a used trans in my 01 v70 xc to replace the trans that had this issue. Engine wont rev in park as if its in gear, reverse goes nowhere, neutral is drive, drive is drive. My car now shifts really good and all gears are correct..

Now your problem is not likely a valve body! i took my old trans apart as suggested by Hiram Guiterrez (he has a youtube video overhauling an aw55-51 from a maxima) and found exctly what he predicted i would find which is a burnt up and frozen clutch pack. I believe Hiram references it as the forward drum in his youtube video. Here are pictures of what i found if anyone is interested.

i dont think a valve body is going to fix your issues.

[jerseykat1]

BTW if there is anyone brave enough to attempt to replace this transmission in there driveway. Do yourself a favor and buy a new driverside front axle. That axle is one of the most difficult to remove that i have ever had the displeasure of removing. I Fix cars for a living and i have removed some stubborn axles before. i ended up just pulling the inner cv joint out, leaving the cup in the trans and removing the trans with the inner axle cup still in. i did manage to finally get it separated when i got the trans on the bench using 2 wedge chisels and a big hammer.

have a new axle on standby incase yours is stubborn, they cost about 60-70 bucks new from advanced autoparts.