need help with Rostra Solenoid upgrade

jubilatio · Post by **jubilatio** » 07 Feb 2016, 22:05

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. I think I am missing something very fundamental:

I am kind of stuck in the middle of a tranny swap gone bad. I bought a 2002 V70 2.4T FWD that had a bad AW55-50SN tranny, and I planned to move the good tranny from my wife's 2002 V70 2.3 T5, which had suffered a failed cylinder. I installed a new set of Rostra updated SLT, SLS, and SLU solenoids on a bench which full access to all the electrical connections and fasteners before installing the good tranny on my wife's "new" 2002 V70 2.4T. I drilled access holes in the oil pan so I could adjust them per the Rostra instructions. The holes are plugged between adjustments. This was on a transmission that was working well before it was installed. It seems no matter how far I unscrew the SLT, I get a bang when shifting from 2 to 3. And I get another bump when it downshifts from 3 back to 2. I have not touched the SLS or SLU from the factory setting. I was planning on getting the solenoids adjusted perfectly this way, then installing an intact oil pan from my bad tranny. But I am getting nowhere fast. I followed some YouTube instructions of Hiram Guitierez and plugged an oil pressure gauge into the pressure port, and it was around 90psi, and it would not reduce when unscrewing the SLT. I have no idea why it was not closer to 5psi. I am a shade tree mechanic, I do not have a VIDA computer diagnostics tool. Any ideas on where I should go from here?

Post by **phils94850** » 08 Feb 2016, 06:11

Hey Welcome to MVS ! So.. the transmission was working fine in the original car and now its shifting hard after the swap ? I would say you need to have the software update done and also have a trans adaptive done as well. Since youve installed it into another car and it was working fine before I think that's your problem.

Post by **vtl** » 08 Feb 2016, 09:19

At least you need to reset transmission adaptation.

I personally have had no luck with Rostra solenoids. Sonnax-reman'ed valve body fixed all transmission problems my wife's car had.

Post by **phils94850** » 08 Feb 2016, 09:25

I just ordered a reman valve body for my XC as well. I think if the trans was working good before the swap id say you need a trans adaptation

Post by **oragex** » 08 Feb 2016, 16:13

There is this file. All solenoids electrical connectors are properly secured?

jubilatio · Post by **jubilatio** » 08 Feb 2016, 21:47

oragex wrote:There is this file. All solenoids electrical connectors are properly secured?

Yes, I heard them all click, on the bench with full visibility of every connection.

jubilatio · Post by **jubilatio** » 08 Feb 2016, 21:49

phils94850 wrote:Hey Welcome to MVS ! So.. the transmission was working fine in the original car and now its shifting hard after the swap ? I would say you need to have the software update done and also have a trans adaptive done as well. Since youve installed it into another car and it was working fine before I think that's your problem.

Thank you so much for the info. So if I were to take it to a good Volvo mechanic, I could get the software update and trans adaptive done regardless of the Rostra solenoid adjustment? Or would I also need to tweak the solenoid adjustment as a final step?

Thanks again.

Post by **phils94850** » 08 Feb 2016, 22:11

You will have to find a shop that has the proper equipment (vida-dice) and the most up to date software and then they can put it in trans adaptive mode. When in the mode the car has to be driven a certain speed for a certain time period. Usually its best to let a dealer do it. As far as the solenoid you need to try and get it back to the setting when it came from the manufacturer. My suggestion would be the solenoids need to be set back to factory setting before doing anything else.

jubilatio · Post by **jubilatio** » 09 Feb 2016, 20:33

phils94850 wrote:You will have to find a shop that has the proper equipment (vida-dice) and the most up to date software and then they can put it in trans adaptive mode. When in the mode the car has to be driven a certain speed for a certain time period. Usually its best to let a dealer do it. As far as the solenoid you need to try and get it back to the setting when it came from the manufacturer. My suggestion would be the solenoids need to be set back to factory setting before doing anything else.

I know a really good Volvo shop in Pasadena who have access to the Volvo network, software, and diagnostics. But my question is why would the transmission adaptation have anything to do with the line pressure being controlled by the SLT? I suppose I need to read up on what and why that would have any bearing on the line pressure.

Post by **phils94850** » 10 Feb 2016, 04:46

The adaptation tells the trans when to shift is my understanding, so if its out of sync then obviously it will cause higher and lower pressures. I may be wrong but that's my understanding and everything ive read most people say it must be done. I'm getting my reman valve body in the mail today actually. Ive read its usually the bore in the valve body is what goes bad and it has to be re=sleeved but in your case since the trans was shifting good in the other car it "should" be fine. I think your issue is the software update and the adaptation needs to be redone, but, I would def try and get the solenoids back to factory settings. You have to remember Volvo parts/electronics are usually all mated up to one car so when you go swapping parts sometimes they don't like it and can cause issues.