My wife was using the s70 this morning and got stuck. She said she stopped at a stop sign, then gave it gas and it acted like it was in neutral. She tried 3 and L with the same result. She let it idle in park until I got there--like an hour. When I got in the car, I put it in reverse and it I felt the tranny engage, then I put it in drive and it moved as it should. I followed her home and she said it drove as it should all the way back home.
Any ideas as to what could cause this?
I replaced the axles last week. Could an axle have popped out or something?
Also, since I've had the car, it's shifted hard. Was planning on changing the tranny oil to see if that would fix the hard shifting. Could old tranny fluid have caused the problem?

 

If you did the axles you should have put new tranny fluid in. It sound like you need a tranny flush along with some fresh fluid(try not to go cheap on the fluid, I've had some bad luck with that). It will do wonders.

 

If you did not get a CEL or go into LIMP HOME MODE, I call it a hickup. If it happens to her again, ever, tell her to put it in park, turn it off, start it back up, and try to drive away.

The fluid is likely NOT the cause of the hard shifting, more than likely it's the motor and transmission mounts.

There are a few things that you should do to these cars when you get them. They should be done before you sleep (unless you have written proof that it has been done recently).

1. Timing belt.

2. PCV system replacement.

3. Transmission fluid change.

4. Change oil.

 

The best way I can describe the way I think it SHOULD shift and the way it DOES shift is the difference between a stock clutch and a racing or 6 puck clutch. Doesn't feel like engine or tranny mounts are loose, feels more like it's jamming into gear.

I did the timing belt/components and the oil change, plan on doing tranny fluid tomorrow, but haven't considered pcv system replacement.

 

Regarding the sudden trans slipping syndrome: did she bump the sport/econ trans switch by chance?

See post #4 here.

 

Could it be an overheated trans, plus if you changed the axles you must have lost trabs fluid ( did you replace it?)
I would do a drain and fill instead of a flush on the trans, you can do it in a couple days intervals.

 

I have never changed an axle but if it disturbs the fluid one bit it would be a reason to do a full fluid replacement. Kinda like people do when they change the PCV system.

As for the hard shifting, it really doesn't need much of an explination. The only time fluid makes it shift hard is when you are moving the shifter and it engauges hard. The hard shifting while driving like from 2nd to 3rd, etc., is from the mounts. When we got out S70 it was shifting hard and when I replaced the lower transmission mount it started shifting so smooth we couldn't feel it at all. The mount doesn't have to be torn, just softer than it needs to be. To me, it felt like the car was dropping into gear.

 

When I changed the axles I didn't lose fluid.
I just checked fluid level and was 2 qts down.
Filled it up, tried to put it in reverse. Same issue.
I can vaguely hear something spinning when I put it in reverse or drive, but it doesn't engage the wheels.
Also, when i try to put it in park, it grinds. I have to turn the car off and then put the lever up to the park position.

 

That fluid has to be going somewhere. Maybe you messed something up when you replaced the axle. Was the fluid level good after you replaced the axle?

 

I didn't check the level after I replaced the axle. I assumed that since I didn't lose any fluid that I should be good. But honestly, I checked the fluid when I first got the car several months ago, but not since.

 

So am I totally screwed? Is this tranny toast or is there something else I can do?

 

Driving a tranny with low fluid is bad but the symptoms you describe are a little strange. I would probably take it to a indi Volvo shop to let them check it out. Most will only charge you between $70 and $90 to let you know what's really going on.

 

I pulled the wheel off and removed the axle nut. The axle spins freely. I must not have pushed them in far enough. I'm working on the driver's side..I pushed the axle in as far as it will go and now there's a 1 to 2" space in between the hub and the axle gear(the part of the axle that fits into the hub. Is there an adjustment that I'm missing?

 

Figured it out.
Popped the driv side axle back in and it's driving as it should now.

 

Sweet. Good to hear that it was something easy. Make sure you have the proper amount of fluid in your tranny.

 

Will do. Not used to auto trannies.

Also, took it for a spin--no more hard shifting. Win/win.

Thanks for the help!

 

I thought the hard shifting was from purchase?

 

It was. Seems to be shifting fine now.

 

Hi

I have lost drive and reverse in my V50 D5 Auto whilst going down the road. I spun the wheels when on axle stands and they were free... then after moving driveshafts it seems to engage driveshaft to transmission ???

Dropped the car and it drove and reversed about 5 or 6 times but when I went to drive home I lost drive and reverse again. Any ideas?

Thanks Simon