VancouverUmbrella Posted August 13, 2021 Report Share Posted August 13, 2021 Greetings fellow Volvo owners! Three years ago, I bought a beautiful, low mileage, 1-owner V70. Since then, the car has been a delight to drive and own. Then out of the blue about a week ago, the automatic transmission started clunking and bucking gently when changing from P to R or D. In the past few days, it started spontaneously clunking and bucking when in D and stopped at a red light. I've just now driven the car home from my local Volvo dealer. They've declared the trans is unrepairable and must be replaced. They offered a new one at a cost of $8,000 plus labour. Interestingly, the harsh shifting is now noticeably more severe than when I dropped the car off this morning. Some Googling leads me to suspect that the transmission may be a victim of the Aisin transmission defect. I'm hoping that the B4 Servo Cover Update and flushing the trans may provide a workable solution. Have any of you ever been down this road with a 2008 V70? Kindly, Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ihatespeedbumps Posted August 13, 2021 Report Share Posted August 13, 2021 A servo cover isn't going to fix that. Did they pull any codes you could share? I'm not aware of any "Aisin transmission defect" either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VancouverUmbrella Posted August 13, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2021 Thanks for the quick reply and good info. The Volvo dealership reported that there were no TCM codes and that the TCM software was up to date. They inspected the trans fluid and found the level and condition "OKAY". The only visible defect they noted was "minor seeping at trans". The first handful of Google search results I got for the problem all referred to a known defect with Aisin AW55-50/51SN transmissions in various Volvo models from about 2001 to as late as 2010 or so. I read that Volvo eventually offered the B4 servo cover update as a possible fix. Here's a thread that discusses the issue, for example: https://www.eeuroparts.com/blog/is-your-volvo-hard-shifting-you-should-read-this The Aisin issue seems to fit the symptoms of my V70 to some degree. And it does provide some possible understanding of how the trans in a well-cared-for, low-mileage car can suddenly go bad. But is it really what I'm dealing with? I don't know. After getting the car back from Volvo, I contacted some other shops, including the used dealership where I bought the car. They immediately offered the opinion that the Volvo dealership was dead wrong and that there are measures that may fix the problem without pulling the trans, replacing the shifting solenoids, for example. I plan to have them take a look at the car. Kindly, Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimLev1 Posted August 14, 2021 Report Share Posted August 14, 2021 There’s always the junkyard where you can get another tranny. $8K is robbery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VancouverUmbrella Posted August 14, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2021 Hey Jim, Thanks, yes, a used trans does seem like an option. Now that I've discovered the general problem with transmissions in Volvos of my era, I have some doubts. By the way, the Volvo dealership did offer me a used transmission with 157,000km on it, untested, no warranty of any kind, for about $3K. I didn't need to think about that offer very long. A reliable automatic transmission shop here in town will rebuild my existing trans for $3-4K. It may come to that. Best, Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VancouverUmbrella Posted August 17, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2021 Today I brought the V70 to the used Volvo dealer / repair shop where I bought it three years ago. On my drive to the shop, the bucking and clunking problem was more obvious than ever. While I waited, the shop owner took the car for quick drive around the block. His diagnosis: engine hesitation, nothing to do with the transmission at all. I left the car with him for the day. He changed the spark plugs, air filter, and fuel pressure sensor. For preventative maintenance, he recommended replacing the transmission fluid, which I accepted. When the work was done, I drove the car back home. It was a 30+ minute drive in stop and go rush hour city traffic. There was no sign whatever of the clunking and bucking. At this point, I'm cautiously optimistic. And pretty darned relieved. As for the new Volvo dealer who declared the transmission unrepairable, it's looking like incompetence may be the most favourable explanation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ihatespeedbumps Posted August 17, 2021 Report Share Posted August 17, 2021 Glad to hear you got it sorted out. Just for reference your vehicle does not have the Aisin AW55-50/51SN, it has the TF-80SC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VancouverUmbrella Posted August 17, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2021 Wonderful! That's icing on the cake. Thanks for setting me straight. 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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