Trans Problems

[BKelly]

I'm not sure of what could be the problem, but here is the issue.

Drove the car about 35 miles. Got to my stop and turned the car off. Car sat for about 30 minutes and started right back up. Put the car in gear (automatic), pressed the gas, car would barely move. No matter what gear it was in it didn't want to go. Really felt like trans was slipping.

Got the car home and parked it. Started researching what the problem could be and found this website.

Now comes the strange part. The car sat for about a week. Started the car to turn it around in the drive way so I could finish replacing the fuel injector return lines, the dang car moved right down the road with no problem! So I took it for a little test drive. For about 2 miles the trans had no issues. After the 2 miles the trans started acting like it was slipping again.

What do you guys think? I'm stumped!!

[Nevadan]

Try searching here:

http://www.turbobricks.com/

I don't know anything about automatics.

[ngoma]

Have you checked:

Trans fluid level?
Correct trans fluid type?
Clogged trans filter?
Selector lever adjustment?

[BKelly]

Thanks guys. All fluids are good, I will be checking if the proper fluid was used. I will be researching that website for info.

[BKelly]

Well, I had my buddy take the car for a ride, he says the Trans is gone. I will be looking into rebuilding it or if someone here in Southern Cali has a good one for sale let me know.

[v8volvo]

Is this a 240 or 740? If it is a 700 series there are several members selling good used ZF transmissions now. ZF 4HP is a pretty sophisticated and complex tranny, if it breaks probably cheaper/easier to change it for a used replacement than rebuilding.

If it is a 200, those transmissions are harder to come by but the old BW55 gearboxes are a pretty basic unit, much more primitive and simpler than the ZF, should be easy to find someone who can rebuild it cheaply. Same trans as used in old gasser Volvos (pre 1982?) plus many American vehicles from the '70s etc... Should present no challenge in terms of labor or parts.

[v8volvo]

Also IIRC, if it is a 240, the old BW boxes had bands that could be adjusted -- before committing to hauling the tranny out and replacing or overhauling might try to track down a Greenbook for the BW35/BW55 transmission, read the troubleshooting sections and look at the power flow diagrams and clutch/brake operation tables and see if you can pinpoint a culprit area that accounts for the symptoms you are experiencing. It may give you a clue for adjustments to try, etc before condemning the unit as a whole. Many different things that can cause an automatic trans to act up, besides just being worn out, and especially with an intermittent issue like this I would be looking for some kind of control side problem. Might be a broken O-ring or cracked spring, sticky piston etc in the valve body, band adjustment issue etc. The tables in the greenbook are your friend here... If it works kinda normally some of the time then I doubt the whole thing is "gone" in the sense of being beyond reasonable in-car repair.

If you don't like the idea of monkeying with this stuff yourself you could probably find a good trans shop that could handle it for you.

For further info - There is a guy on the S'Bricks list, Al Palombo, who was a Volvo dealer tech for decades and has close knowledge of the BW and AW tranny platforms - I can PM you his contact info, you might consider sending him a message with details about your issue and see if he has some ideas or suggestions...

[v8volvo]

Scan of the 200 series green book that covers BW55:
http://www.k-jet.org/files/greenbook..._aw70_aw71.pdf

[BKelly]

Well, I have found an '80 turbo diesel that I am going to swap the whole power pack. I will let you all know how that goes.

[745 TurboGreasel]

That is strange, there were no turbos in 80.