Control body overhaul any one don it?

[Astro14]

If you want to be successful - then have a specialist rebuild the body.

I don't doubt that you can do the swap, but there is far more to rebuilding the body than what you've found on youtube or the web. The fact that you think you have all the tools tells me that you haven't fully understood what's involved. There are far more parts in the Valve Body alone than in any manual transmission.

Just the jigs to install the Sonnax upgrades (re-bore) are several hundred $$...I know, I looked...and the tool set (jigs) to rebuild the linear solenoids are a few hundred $$. The cost of the tools just to be able to rebuild it exceed the cost of having a specialist rebuild the valve body. But having the tools doesn't mean that you can do the rebuild, you still need to be able to adjust it when you're done.

Here's a link to the guys who did both of my valve bodies: http://www.valvebodybuilders.com/

Here's what they do to remanufacture:

Using a comprehensive three-phase process, Valve Body Builders remanufactures transmission valve bodies that exceed industry standards.

Phase 1: Test each individual solenoid electrically three times, flush with heated hydraulic fluid, test for flow and leak, then graph performance on computer to ensure the solenoid meets OEM specs.

Phase 2: Check and test each individual valve, install Sonnax upgrades as well as upgrades engineered by VBB.

Phase 3: Run assembled valve bodies through a complete series of shifting tests on using Zoom Technologies Smart Switch VBT 4000.

The end result is a valve body that's ready to work and to keep on working! Our remanufactured valve bodies come with a 12 month unlimited kilometers warranty.

VBB works closely with each customer, providing personal, hands-on service and a product that will keep their car lift free of technical problems.



VBB doesn't deal with consumers (at least, until I begged them to do mine) - they're focused on supporting transmission shops. Transmission shops who have found the valve body too technically challenging, that's why VBB has the flow bench, using heated fluid, to test and adjust the rebuild.

One other point, if you mess the body up, you'll find a new one is about $1,300...about twice the price of having a specialist rebuild the body.

The spirit of this forum is to learn from the experience of others....that's why I wrote the notes on replacing the valve body. I've done it twice. Learn from my experience: The best route is to take it out, send it off, and have a specialist do the work.

[billr99]

I hear what yo say but don't think my transmission specialist is prepared to spend the time on diagnosis the problem. their first option is to change the valve body as it is the least risk option for them. If a cheap fix does not work they will have to pay for the labour to make good on a guarantee. So, they are transferring their risk insurance to me at my cost by replacing the valve body.

What special tools do professionals have to do the job that i don't ... the answer is none! All you need is a good pressure gauge (mine has a data logger) and volvo dice (most transmission specialists don't have this and have to outsource this to Volvo who are reluctant to help anyone in my state).

It's easier to replace the whole valve body, i agree. but more of a challenge to repair it and what is the outcome if it doesn't work...greasy hands and the cost of a new valve body.

I'm prepared to take the risk and have a go.... after all this is the spirit o this type of forum.

and BTW i don't have to accept your answer,but thanks for the advice anyway.

If you do decide to tackle this job, could you keep us updated as to both your processes and the results? Good or bad. Obviously with all the information floating around out there on Volvo trannies, hard, provable evidence of what can work or not is valuable to all of us.

Thanks,

Bill

[Volky_one]

What kind of shifting problems did you have and continues to have?

car stays in second for a prolonged time with a slow movement until it starts to pickup some speed, then moves to 3rd then after 3rd no problem. adaptation canot be completed. hard to get passed 2-3 orange light. so far the software has been upgraded but no luck, B4 servo upgraded, still no luck.

[stuj]

Hi

Some time since I posted this but finally overhauled my valve body. It's a lof of work but quit simple to do if you have good workshop skills. I used the transgo shift kit from e-bay.....only costs $88. The procedure on this forum was very helpful. The kit came with instructions that are very good. Only hassle I had was removing the bonded gasket on the middle plate, in hindsight is should have re-used this but wanted to replace all gaskets.

Used the vida tool to put the car into adaptive mode this is simple once you work out that what looks like a picture is actually a button..crazy Swedish programmers!

The car shifts like new and I'm very happy with the outcome.

I drilled the holes in the cover so I could adjust the pressure if needed. I used self tapping bolts with o ring and this works well, you have to grind them short of course.

I have purchased a 15 psi pressure transducer to check the pressures if required.

Overall this is a good project and there is definitely no special transmission expert needed to do this work. If people tell you this should only do this is you are a qualified technician they are wrong and in fact the transmission experts in Australia generally use unskilled labour to fit refurbished units anyway.

Stuj

[Astro14]

Stuj - what parts did you replace? what upgrades did you do? Did you rebore or re-sleeve anything? How did you test it on the bench?

[stuj]

Stuj - what parts did you replace? what upgrades did you do? Did you rebore or re-sleeve anything? How did you test it on the bench?

Astro

I did a couple of vac tests but soon realised that there was no real wear on other parts not supplied in the kit. No rebore required. I will scan the instructions from the transgo kit and upload to this forum. I think the main reason for the shift issue was the modulators sticking.

[stuj]

Photos and transgo instructions



See next post for next photos

[stuj]

Photos from last post

[Astro14]

Thanks for posting! FWIW, all of my solenoids checked within range on both valve bodies...before I sent them off, I wanted to ensure that the solenoids were good....

Cheers

[ericjp]

Thanks for posting! FWIW, all of my solenoids checked within range on both valve bodies...before I sent them off, I wanted to ensure that the solenoids were good....

Cheers

STUJ

Will you tell me the part number for the shift kit you used?