01 V70xc Trans Issue?

[33eggharbor]

I reciently purchased another 01 V70XC. Only isse that I see is that when I stop at a red light or any type of FULL stop while in drive, the is like a one or two second dely or slight kick when I go from the break to gas. It's got 124K by the deal was very very good. Even if I need a new trans I would still be ahead of the game. Other than the delay/kick from the full stop, all other shifting seem fine, no fault codes, and fluid looks good. Any ideas?

[connorb850]

This is normal on the 2001 S60s and V70s. For this year Volvo programmed the transmission to go into neutral on full stops for some reason, then engage into gear when you go to accelerate. If I recall Correctly there is a software update from Volvo that stops this from happening.

[rodrigo]

This is normal on the 2001 S60s and V70s. For this year Volvo programmed the transmission to go into neutral on full stops for some reason, then engage into gear when you go to accelerate. If I recall Correctly there is a software update from Volvo that stops this from happening.

Would it be safe to say that this is the case for all early P2 cars...2000+XC's as well?

[33eggharbor]

This is normal on the 2001 S60s and V70s. For this year Volvo programmed the transmission to go into neutral on full stops for some reason, then engage into gear when you go to accelerate. If I recall Correctly there is a software update from Volvo that stops this from happening.

Do we know about how much the software update costs?

[connorb850]

Would it be safe to say that this is the case for all early P2 cars...2000+XC's as well?

I'm pretty sure it only effected the 2001 S60s/V70s, but I could be wrong.

Do we know about how much the software update costs?

I'm not sure, you would have to check with your dealer.

[rodrigo]

I'm pretty sure it only effected the 2001 S60s/V70s, but I could be wrong.

I'm not sure, you would have to check with your dealer.

I'll check then...thanks! :)

[Vitor]

A friend that has an indy Volvo shop tells me that the "stop neutral" can be de-activated on the '01.

He says the software is abou $50.00 and the installation is the going shop rate.

That feature drives me nuts on my '01 S60.

[jhb8426]

I have a 2001 V70 2.4T w/75k Miles.

I have had problems with the transmission missing a shift, or hesitating between 1st and 2nd when going from a dead stop. It has been diagnosed as a software problem 3 times; at 40k, 50k and 60k miles. The first two were under warranty. I badgered the dealer on the third one and didn't have to pay for that one either. I have an extended warranty but software is not covered.

It is now happening again, and the dealer says another software download will fix it. I say BS. How many times do you get a software download before they decide that maybe it's something else? Is it something with this transmission in general, or is the transmission going?

[Guest saltydog]

there are potentially 3 other sources of the problem. The first is the cheapest - flush the tranny fluid, even though the manual says you don't have to do it - that's bull. That solves a lot of guy's troubles. Next is potentially having to replace the valve body - not good, but there are a lot of '01's that get this repair. 3rd, & the longshot - failing ABS control unit that is getting confused with the traction control input & starting to freak out. Amazing. Yet another "great deal" on a 2001.......pray your issues end with your transmission.

[33eggharbor]

there are potentially 3 other sources of the problem. The first is the cheapest - flush the tranny fluid, even though the manual says you don't have to do it - that's bull. That solves a lot of guy's troubles. Next is potentially having to replace the valve body - not good, but there are a lot of '01's that get this repair. 3rd, & the longshot - failing ABS control unit that is getting confused with the traction control input & starting to freak out. Amazing. Yet another "great deal" on a 2001.......pray your issues end with your transmission.

Software Upgrade did the trick!!!! I actually have a smile you could only remove with plastic surgery!!!

Other than the above issue, and need for a new key and remote (all solved this morning for $405.00) I actually am very happy with my goog fortune. Here is the story.

The lease on my 02 Xterra is up this month, so for the past three weeks I was out looking for a Used Porsche 928 or 911. I made a few offers and took a few drives (all arounf the $15K range). So two weeks ago I go to see another 928 and on the lot accross the street I se this 01 V70XC sitting there with no price on it/ but also no plates. So the salesman comes out and I inquire.The guy (in the thickest Russian Accent you ever did hear) said "We just took today on trade." "Car Clean but have high milage and bad Transmission". I ask to see it just for fun, and other than a few minor paint scratches and 124K miles it looks great. I take it for a test drive and It has the tranny kick everytime I stop at red light or stop sign, as this Russian is yelling " See.... piece of stuff."

Now I know form reading this Messgae board (Due to my lovely 93 850) and all you wonderful people about this and other issues with the 01 V70XC. So I say to him that I would still love to get if for my wife who drives a total of 2 miles roud trip to work, and if it need a tranny oh well. It still looks nice.

He actually said $6K.

I think quickly do the math in my head 6K + 4k (worst case for new tranny) = 10K still well under valued.

I pulled out my Porsche Cash and hand him 6.5K and tell him to have plates on it the next day. I go pick it up, give it to my wife, take my 93 850 back, get both detailed, and today new Key, remote, and software upgrade. And the Volvo Service Tech said evertthing else seems perfect.

01 V70 XC for 7K (Nice)

No more POS Xterra with a $262.00 payment (Teriffic)

I get My 93 850 back form wife (Outstanding)

Being one of the few people in this world who screwed a used car salesman. (Priceless)

[howardc64]

TCM software update at dealer is $75 for me IF your car takes it. Mine took the update and stop on neutral was removed. Actually, stop on neutral wasn't an issue on my car. Now with it removed, I can feel a little more vibration at a stop. I updated the tranny software in an attemp to repair the well documented shifting from second to third flare.

Dealer also mentioned that the update may trigger a transmission adaptation cycle. This would have cost another 1.5 hours. It is a series of driving patterns in various gears to teach the transmission how to adapt. In my case, this wasn't necessary.

After the update, my car drives silky smooth in auto mode. Seems no more flare in this mode. But the flare is still there in manual shift mode. There is also a previous problem that is now more prominent.

I typically push the shift lever from manual to auto mode when coming to a stop to allow the tranny do its own shfit down. I now can sometime feel harsher auto mode downshifts while doing this. I even detected the downshifts goes one lower gears at a time once. This doesn't occur if I move from manual to auto with plenty of time in advance. But if I do this say a 2-3 seconds before stop or completely forget and the tranny auto shift down while coming to a stop in manual mode, then the harsher downshifts are more likely to happen.

I should also mentioned that I did change the ATF with AMSOIL synth as well + Lubegard as a first step to service the transmission before the software update. For now, I'm happy that auto mode works great. Probaby the only thing left to do is to change back to Volvo ATF and see if my manual shifts patterns improve. Probably should have used Volvo ATF to eliminate any variable but it is so expensive (I know, tranny is much more expensive). A Volvo parts dealer told me the Volvo ATF is not synth and made by Chevron. I take this meaning Mobil 3309 is not the same stuff.

Car at 92k miles FYI.

[Guest saltydog]

Thumbs up to eggharbour - & thanks for letting me know that I haven't been the only guy bent over trying to deal one of these things. I was offered 8K (cdn) last weekend at a Honda dealer, because my car "needs" an engine. I gotta agree that for the kind of money you paid, that IS a great deal....you can't buy anything comparable even if it does turn out to be as (un) reliable as mine.....if you're feeling any sort of guilt for paying too little, can I interest you in a second XC?

[33eggharbor]

Thumbs up to eggharbour - & thanks for letting me know that I haven't been the only guy bent over trying to deal one of these things. I was offered 8K (cdn) last weekend at a Honda dealer, because my car "needs" an engine. I gotta agree that for the kind of money you paid, that IS a great deal....you can't buy anything comparable even if it does turn out to be as (un) reliable as mine.....if you're feeling any sort of guilt for paying too little, can I interest you in a second XC?

The only thing that would get me out of my 93 850 would be a 97-98 850 with semi-low milage, Turbo (Manual Trans) and Convertable. :)

[PyROTech]

im going out on a limb here and dont want to seem im hating and bringing something personal into the picture, seem please be advised im bias when i write this:

I have gone through several problems dealing with the trans of different volvos and even my own on the 01's. There is a problem i believe and the software update will not fix the problem. It will fix it for the time being. I feel that there is a defect in the design. I had to sell my 01 v70 t5 b/c of this problem b/c my warrenty was up at 80km. I bought the car used with very few miles on it and think that the original owner sold it b/c of the tranny problems but this is only my speculation.

I had so many software updates and flushes which only cured the problem for a short time. I had them do a valve job "sticky valve" which solved the problem for an extended period but it returned.

Problem i had was the hesitation of engaging gear, it started off small then got to the point that i would think i got rearended when i went into gear, rpm climbed fast and click, bang. If you search the net there is a supposed fix and also the volvo dealership said they knew of the fix but they didnt want to do it right away since they knew there was a problem with the tranny and higher up guys "we will leave the name at that" didnt want to have the problem known so they would have to fix alot of peoples car. Several friends of mine who owned same cars "we all went in on buying that year together" had same problem at same time as me. One of my friends was succesfull in getting the tranny fixed after a volvo tech from some places had to come in and fix the problem with many many hours of work. Mine was said it prob had tobe replaced.

[Guest saltydog]

I gotta tell ya - I too am very conscious of appearing like some wad of puss with an axe to grind, as I've recently appeared in several forums with thinly veiled bitchin' about my '01 XC, but if you look at these boards with an open mind, there truly are a lot of us out there with similar issues with this P2 car (& 2001 WAS the first year for P2 in North America). I've stated this many times...this is my 4th turbo wagon. I really, really WANT to love this car like I did my others, but the car is doing it's best to see that this can't happen. As I currently make plans to perform a heart transplant on this thing, I think that many of us have a right to be pissed. Many of us bought these vehicles because WE loved them...they weren't mainstream, many of my freinds have never understood why I drive them, many of us are multiple owners & this is what irks me. I feel like a fraud has been perpetrated on us. This vehicle bears NO resemblance to my others - it's a Buick, & had I bought a Buick, that would be fine but I thought I was buying a Volvo (it was new). A lot of people point the finger at Ford, but we all know that this car was in the engineering can before the buy out which means that, sadly, the philosiphy behind the brand has changed & I personally don't believe that these guys can ever churn out another 850 - I think that the Volvo that we all know & love, is dead & gone & even the die hards that will post back that I'm nuts & go whine somewhere else, will eventually be forced into newer product & a new reality. As for my whining? Well, I'm keeping the car - little choice - & I'm forever hopeful that once I replace the engine, ABS control unit, my 2 oxygen sensors, upper spring mounts & address the howl from the rear end, that I might be able to rekindle my love affair with my car - if it will let me.