2002: Tranmissions mess: what years fit?

[carboncow]

Friend bought a very clean but mechanically basket case 2002 XC70. One of the several codes I"m not familiar with is:

He has a 2002 XC70

He got this car for $600 and the transmission had a few mild flairs at 2/3 & 3/4. By the time he got it to my house it was fully slipping and a hot mess of hard slips. Will try a fluid swap and we need to fix a non-cooling fan situation with ECM-6110, might be running engine as well as transmission hot.

I might have a donor transmission but mine is a 2003. I know some of these components are year specific but how does that work with transmissions? Is it a matter of software or actually hardware difference?

Just rusty on remember what the issues were in 2002. I know our 2001 V70 had the shift lock at idle issue but what is the concern on 2002 XC. We talking valve body or should he just find a cheap/easy swap?

[SuperHerman]

You need to match the letter code on the valve body for a straight swap. Early 2001 had no code or an "A" after that various versions had "B", "C" ... You most likely have an "A" or "B" - only a visual inspection will tell you.

If the donor tranny is out then remove the valve body cover and take a look.

Here is what I would do - first check the B4 servo cover on the 2002 and make sure it has not failed. As you have a "donor" you can pull the B4 from it even if it is still in car and use it in the 2002 (assuming the 2002 is bad and the 2003 is good). Assuming 2002 is bad see what happens after a tranny drain and fill and B4 swap.

Here is where you have some options even though the transmission valve bodies may not swap straight out - the three solenoids will. You don't need to remove the valve body to replace these. Open both cars up, one at a time, so you figure out how to do it - it is pretty easy once you figure it out. The later transmissions used an improved design on the solenoids and your 2003 most likely has these - an early 2002 may not.

Plenty of right up on how to do the B4 Servo and the valve body operation.

One last item, I am attacking this from the cheapest route. Use Valvoline Maxlife as your replacement fluid. Has worked fine on every Volvo I have worked on. WalMart $22 a gallon - once you get it running do another drain and fill for good measure if you want. Also get two Nissan Maxima valve body gaskets so if you have issues you don't have to clean the RTV (which to me is the hardest part of the job as the scraps fall everywhere).

One last very important item, when you drain the fluid of the 2002 look carefully for metal sparkle in the oil as this is a sign of a hard mechanical failure. You will find some junk on the drain plug magnet - not a worry. Do the same for the 2003.