I have a 1995 850 turbo wagon. My mechanic installed a rebuilt transmission obtained from a dealer less than 40,000 miles ago.

EDIT: correction - less than 20,000 miles

This weekend it failed -- I started the car and drove, but it didn't engage correctly & follow engine revs, then it went "clunk" "snap" and didn't feel like it was responding to engine revs.

I pulled over and went thru the shift from P to D and I discovered it would not go in reverse.

In fact, the wheels won't rotate backwards even in neutral. Had to drag it off the tow truck with a chain hooked to another car.

The dealer went out of business; only a 1 year warranty anyway; but this is just not acceptable, a tranny should not fall apart this soon.

 

Rebuilt transmissions for these 850's usually never work out. The transmissions do not like to be rebuilt.

 

Pick one up from a wrecker. The Pick N Pull here has about 5 auto trans. I think they are $75.

 

Maybe I could stock up & get a discount.

Do these transmissions tend to either last forever or fail early?

10 hours installation at $90/hr for whatever they bolt on...

 

They are one of the weakest points as far as the engine and driveline.

 

Correction -- less than 20,000 miles.

How does the Volvo rebuild quality control system work -- should Regional Volvo have a record of the tranmission serial number?

It bothers me that the dealer who supplied it went out of business suddenly; literally a day or two after supplying it.

Wondering if they just sold a unit off a junker instead of a certified rebuilt unit, knowing they were not going to be around to answer for it.

Can I supply Volvo with the serial number and get them to prove it was rebuilt?

 

If it was a Volvo dealer I would stop by the next closest one and talk to them.

 

You could also call the 800 North America number and check with them.