Figured I'd post this up to maybe save someone the headaches that I've gone through on this simple task. Seems every part for my '93 940 has been wrong, or different from what it should be. Getting to be a pain in the ***, but it is what it is.

SO ... this started out as a flush, drive, change filter / clean pan, flush again job. The 940 has 145,507 miles on it now. Fluid was BLACK, and was the day I bought it. We've put about 15k miles on it since then without a problem. Tranny shifts perfect, although it does this strange lock/unlock thing when you let off the gas and coast - can feel it, and see it watching the tach - almost like the torque converter is locking/unlocking at random. Other that that, the tranny is perfect. Just doing all this as a preventative maintenance measure. Love the car, and want it to last forever if I can make it.

I flushed 11.5 quarts through the transmission last Friday. I've since driven it 143 miles, and dropped the pan yesterday to change the filter. Was really surprised at how clean the pan was given the color and smell of the fluid! Not bad. Was going to just clean the screen, and re-install, but of course, I caught the edge of the gasket accidentally and busted it off. Not going to reuse that now, so might as well just get a new filter and be done with it.

Tranny is a AW-71L according to the side plate (see pic). But, I ordered a cross-referenced Wix filter off RockAuto, and it was wrong. Went to the local NAPA, waited a day for it to arrive, and theirs was wrong too! Luckily I brought the old filter with me on the 2nd trip. The counter guy looked through pics on his computer - said it's a AW45 (if I recall correctly) filter for a Toyota! Go figure. Of course, the only filter available is 200 miles away. Perfect.

Anyway, I'll update this thread when the new filter gets here Thursday. For now, I'll post some pics of the job for those that may be interested, and see who here has run into similar issues.

 

So, why replace the filter at all? It's just a screen, wash it off, put it back on! The "new" filter will definitely be inferior to the old OEM that was in the car before. And you changed the fluid, then you changed the filter? Hmm....

 

Mainly because the gasket was extremely brittle. Might as well change it out.

Yep - that's how I do flushes. Never had a problem in 25 years.

 

So did the dealer tell you that the part was no longer available?

 

Didn't go to a dealer.

I normally buy all my parts online to save the hassle of driving to the parts store, but in this case the filter wasn't correct for my application. Sent it back to RockAuto, and went to NAPA. They sent me back with the exact same style I had just shipped back to RockAuto, so back down I went (see why I normally shop online?).

The guys down at NAPA know their stuff, and have an excellent computer system down there. Total 180° opposite of my experience at Advance Auto (I only go there for quick and cheap stuff for cars destined for the crusher). They pulled up a picture of an exact match to my filter. It'll be here in 11 hours or so. I'll post an update when I find out if this is the correct one. I'm pretty confident it will be, since I saw the picture - was a dead ringer.

 

I wouldn't use any of the suppliers you mention for my Volvo parts. That's why you are having trouble finding the right part besides the questionable quality (I am being kind) they offer. One has to be very careful these days with what you put in your Volvo if not OEM. Even the OEM has suffered but not nearly as much as the Asian stuff the places you mention sell.

 

This had nothing to do with where I'm shopping. The transmission takes an AW-70 filter even though it's stamped as a AW-71. Very odd. I would've run into the same issue no matter where I went, unless it was a dealer that ran the VIN. This here is the exact filter I just removed and installed. See pic of my tranny plate in the post above:

Volvo Auto Trans Filter Kit - Meistersatz 0998301 - Free Shipping Available

Eeuroparts got me the wrong accumulator when I was doing the A/C over, and they deal with Volvos daily. It happens.

Volvo is owned by the chinese now, so these days I don't think it matters whether you go OEM or not. Some are better than others. NOS is the way to go, so long as the part doesn't contain rubber.

I just installed a pair of OEM fog/headlight assemblies on this car, and I had to heat up a screwdriver to melt the plastic that had been molded over the threads for the mounting brackets. Made in the Czech Republic too. The OEM prices sure haven't come down though, let me tell ya. Can't win today.

I trust NAPA over any of the rest. Their parts have proven to still be decent (as long as you get the premium stuff over the cheap stuff). Was running wheel bearings in my '86 Grand Marquis that had been going for 11 years, 130k miles. Changed them out a few years back because I was replacing the OEM 200k+ mile rotors. They were still perfect, even though I only greased them once in that time. Still running ball joints from them, done in '05, just about 140k miles on them. Get greased whenever I change the oil. They sure don't build stuff like that anymore.

Anyway, the Volvo is back up and running. I snapped some pics of the box, the new filter, the NAPA part number, and the numbers on the valve body, if that tells anyone anything. Alot can happen in 23 years. Maybe someone put an AW-70 valve body in this thing? Maybe it was done at the factory? Who knows. All I know is, this job will be 200x easier the next time without all this running around!

I closely inspected the replacement filter - was identical in every way to what I had removed. No signs of poor quality. Screen was identical too. Plus, got a rubber gasket instead of the cork one I removed.

Fluid is gleaming red now, thankfully. Should be since I've run 21 quarts through this thing! Gave it another 9.5 quarts today.

Another Volvo project done!

 

My 2 cents is if you're going to say OEM know what you're talking about. The Original Equipment Manufacturer may not be in business or make that part anymore. Case in point, the Champion spark plugs for my 850 are no longer made. Going to the Dealer doesn't guarantee it's OEM.

Also the reason the OEM made the part for the manufacturer is that they offered to produce them for the least amount of money. Do you really think the cheapest part is the best part ??

I don't have anything against OEM parts but I know they aren't always the better part.

 

If it's sold as a VOLVO part, I consider it OEM. You're splitting hairs here.