I'm looking at buying a 94 960. I previously had a 95 850 turbo that had all the classic transmission problems that I see on all the posts including flashing up arrows, trans stuct in limp mode and problems with bad pnp switches. I am wondering if the pre 95 960 cars have as many of the classic problems previously mentioned, or are they a little less problematic?

 

They are a little less problematic that the 850, much more problematic than the AW 70/71 used in the Red Blocks.

 

The gearbox is very durable and little problems at all. The gear position sensor/switch assembly on side of trans is the weak point. The catalytic converter is nearby and the heat adds to the already exiting issue of contacts wearing. The sensor/switch assy lasts 125K to 200K, the shorter life being in hot climates.

 

This is an awesome advancement. For more focused mode, this functionality is very necessary. Thank you for posting and sharing.
buy google +1 votes

 

These transmission are the best thing, even before sliced bread. Being a small company Volvo didn't re-invent the wheel with them. It got'em from Aisin Warner, a Japanese-American joint venture. Aisin was owned from Toyota and when Toyota decided to build larger cars to compete in US, it paired with Warner Transmission, an American company, and got their technology into a large number of cars. AW30-40 family of transmission were used in the Toyotas of the 80s and 90: Cressida, Previa, 4Runners, pickups and even Sequoia. Lexus LS400 of the 90s have the same transmissions. They just don't die. Electronics add-on -- that's another story. Especially since most of the connectors are placed right underneath the infamous heater valves that leak coolant every summer over the connectors.