2003 Volvo S80 engine pulls when speed reach around 36km

zhifong · Post by **zhifong** » 17 Oct 2013, 15:35

Hi guys, just need help here, I recently sent my car to the volvo authorized services center to get timing belt, driving belt and fresh air inlet pipe changed, however, I found out whenever the speed reach around 35-40km/h, it pulls back and tachometer will also jump higher and fall back to where it should be. The issue only happened in low speed, high speed seems fine. I did google around, someone said might be transmission problem, so I got transmission oil changed as well, but issue still remaining. It's not very smooth driving in low speed.

I am thinking will this be easy fix or it's time to change to another car now?

Sorry for my bad English, hope you guys can give some advices. Thanks a lot!

Edit: my cars is S80 2.5T odometer is around 150k

difflock54 · Post by **difflock54** » 17 Oct 2013, 17:02

If the problems you are experiencing have arisen immediately or very soon after it came back from the Volvo Service Centre you should go back to them and insist they rectify it.
After a timing belt job etc they surely must have test driven it, tuned it and ensured it was running correctly before signing off the job.

zhifong · Post by **zhifong** » 17 Oct 2013, 18:30

Thanks, I did went back to them, but they insist this something wrong with transmission, nothing to do with the job they done....

difflock54 · Post by **difflock54** » 17 Oct 2013, 19:10

How was the transmission behaving immediately prior to the timing belt job ?
You haven't indicated who did the ATF change. Was it Volvo or elsewhere and was it a power flush or a more gentle drain and fill procedure ?
What brand of ATF was put in ?

zhifong · Post by **zhifong** » 17 Oct 2013, 19:13

The transmission was running quite smoothing prior to the timing belt change, never give me any problem. I got another workshop near my work to change the transmission fluid, and I've asked them to do a flush as well.

difflock54 · Post by **difflock54** » 17 Oct 2013, 19:50

Flushing can be a bit harsh on some transmissions, especially at higher mileages.

A slower, 2 or 3 stage 'drain and fill method' is much safer and most forum members only do their transmissions by that method.
You should be using the correct ATF fluid also. Volvo OEM JWS 3309 or Mobil ATF 3309 or Toyota T-III or T-IV ATF which is the same stuff.
Aisin Warner auto transmissions are actually Toyota derived.
The Mobil or Toyota ATF is much cheaper than paying the Volvo prices and is the same.
Other brands often result in harsh or varied shifting after being used.

Your stating that it ran fine prior to Volvo service kind of makes it all the more strange that the problem was there when you got it back from them.
i still rather feel they should take some resonsibility for the cars performance , post the Volvo service.
Unfortunately they (Volvo) now have an OUT as you have allowed another workshop to do the transmission and they can deny any inadequacy that now exists. (assuming it is a transmission problem)

I kinda still wonder if all this is still to do with the fitting of the timing belt. It may have slipped a notch or the cams moved slightly at reassembly leaving the engine timing may be a fraction out ???
(retarded.)