Transmission flushing at home: Really easy, really effective

[duncan]

Great, thanks - that's what I thought you meant. Just wanted to double check before I play with a rather expensive piece of machinery

[PaperToast]

You have three options:
1. Mobil 3309 anywhere from $5-7 a litre: available at any Mobil reseller and online
2. Toyota Type T-IV (equivalant/rebranded Mobile 3309) at $5-7 a litre: available at any Toyota dealership
3. Volvo Trans Fluid (rebranded Mobile 3309) at $20 a litre: available at any Volvo $tealership.

so the bottom line is that 3309 can be used in my 98 with no ill effects?
need to be absolutly sure on this. dont need to mess this one up

[Calloway]

Just a comment...

Just brought my 04 in for timing belt she's got 100,000 on her. Anyway I have never changed the tranny fluid, so i asked the guy at the desk what was his opinion was on tranny flushing. This place, only works on and sell's used Volvo's so they probebly have some idea. He told me that they have had problems a number of times with tranny's when the flush was done when the milage was over 60K. So they reccomend if you have not flushed the tranny before 60K do not do it ever...

[Forkster]

Just a comment...

Just brought my 04 in for timing belt she's got 100,000 on her. Anyway I have never changed the tranny fluid, so i asked the guy at the desk what was his opinion was on tranny flushing. This place, only works on and sell's used Volvo's so they probebly have some idea. He told me that they have had problems a number of times with tranny's when the flush was done when the milage was over 60K. So they reccomend if you have not flushed the tranny before 60K do not do it ever...

Hey Calloway - those guys are a contradiction in common sense. Don't flush? If you flush, and your transmission already has issues, a flush will highlight that it needs attention, not cause further damage or introduce new problems. 99.9% of the times for 03-07 trannies the owners feel the trannies are rejuvinated after a flush.

How are they doing a flush? Perhaps that's the issue?

[g4hlr]

I don't believe you void a warranty doing your own work so long as you can document you did it & any problem is not the result of the DIY work.

Bill

Hi Bill...

I have just been info'd by my local main stealer that I don't have four wheel drive. Apparently I've joined the ranks of the front wheel drive only club due to a failure "somewhere in the drive train/Haldex system". I contacted Volvo as the car had done 54,000 miles, hence over the 50K warranty. They didn't want to know as a previous owner had once had the vehicle worked on by a "specialist garage" and not a main stealer! So, since 1 stamp in the service record came from an independant Volvo stated that this invalidated the warranty......."Volvo for life"?.....well actually sir, no! 3 years or 50K whichever comes first ....and depending on who serviced the car! So be warned.............anyone got any idea what might be wrong with my four wheel drive? The main stealers I've spoken to all acknowledge that they've got customers who won't pay the £1500, ($3,000 US), bill to fix the failure "somewhere in the system", they all sya they've got a pretty good idea what it might be....but they're not letting on!

Regards

John M XC70 D5 SE Lux......apparently now in the afterlife!

ps. A great forum and I really enjoy it. Thanks all

[BillAileo]

John,

I don't personaly know anything about UK laws and regulation on repair work by independents but a UK entity (http://www.volvobasingstoke.co.uk/warranty.php) makes the following representation:

"Volvo Warranty

" We are able to carry out servicing without invalidating your Volvo Warranty. We are also equipped to carry out warranty work covered by a Volvo Select Policy.

"In October 2003 European Union legislation regarding the motor trade came into force. This legislation provides motorists with more freedom to decide who should look after their vehicle.

"The Office of Fair Trading have stated that “independent repairers can carry out normal maintenance and repair services during a vehicle’s warranty period without invalidating the manufacturer’s warranty – subject to the following conditions:

"That the service is carried out in accordance with the manufacturer’s servicing schedules, and is recorded as such.

"That the parts used are of ‘appropriate quality’ and are recorded as such.
This means that you are still able to benefit from our competitive pricing and individual service, even when your vehicle is covered by a Volvo warranty."

[JRL]

Hi Bill...

I have just been info'd by my local main stealer that I don't have four wheel drive. Apparently I've joined the ranks of the front wheel drive only club due to a failure "somewhere in the drive train/Haldex system". I contacted Volvo as the car had done 54,000 miles, hence over the 50K warranty. They didn't want to know as a previous owner had once had the vehicle worked on by a "specialist garage" and not a main stealer! So, since 1 stamp in the service record came from an independant Volvo stated that this invalidated the warranty......."Volvo for life"?.....well actually sir, no! 3 years or 50K whichever comes first ....and depending on who serviced the car! So be warned.............anyone got any idea what might be wrong with my four wheel drive? The main stealers I've spoken to all acknowledge that they've got customers who won't pay the £1500, ($3,000 US), bill to fix the failure "somewhere in the system", they all sya they've got a pretty good idea what it might be....but they're not letting on!

That's all bull but usually the main culprit is the haldex sensor. About a 250 to $300 retail job here in the US

[gibbons]

I only was on this forum for a month or so before we bought our '04 (new). I dunno, maybe if I had been on longer, I might have chickened out because of all their eccentricities. It's been by far my favorite car ever, but even still, it has been a white knuckle experience.

Knowing what you know now, or have experienced up until now, would you have bought your XC?

[Forkster]

Gibbons: yep, I'm thinking about getting a second one. I'd rather buy a car with a few known quirks than buy a car as boring to own and drive like watching paint dry.

Japanese cars even have issues. My 92 Civic required a transmission rebuild (under warranty)- and I cared for her like a 2 week old kitten. My 99 Maxima needed $4000 worth of transmission work, plus alternators, injectors, injection coils, front and rear engine seals, gaskets etc. Both Japanese cars known for being reliable, both needed expensive work.

Compared to my Maxima and Civc, apart from the VADIS challenges, the Volvo is a snap to work on. I wouldn't own a Volvo if it wasn't too easy to work on. Besides, it's got more personality than Madonna.

I think a Volvo is an car enthusiasts machine. Being in touch with your vehicle, caring for it, etc, will help you out $$$ in the long run.

[howardc64]

Hey Calloway - those guys are a contradiction in common sense. Don't flush? If you flush, and your transmission already has issues, a flush will highlight that it needs attention, not cause further damage or introduce new problems. 99.9% of the times for 03-07 trannies the owners feel the trannies are rejuvinated after a flush.

How are they doing a flush? Perhaps that's the issue?

I have heard many problems flushing a high mileage tranny that has never been flushed. The reason is the new fluid loosens up the debries inside the tranny and start circulating it which can clog up the valves. I had a 92 BMW 535i which just about all the forum members/mechanics were afraid to completely flush anything over 100k miles that hasn't been serviced. Most independent shops say these cars go up on the rack for a tranny flush and then wouldn't run again. Thus, they don't want to be responsible for what the customer will perceive as their fault.

What people advise in this case is to drain + fill (replacing only 1/2 of the fluid) for 2-3 times separated by 2-3 months.

This said, I haven't read any this generation Volvos encountering this problem. Different transmission designs might behave differently as well. You might ask them both about his reasons and whether their observations is on this gen V/XCs.