I have a 2002 Volvo s40 that has been very reliable with only a few exceptions in the 18 years that I have had it. A month ago the up arrow next to the check engine light began blinking. We checked ad it said that one of the solenoid in the transmission is failing. According to my mechanic it even says which solenoid i failing.

Now there are three ways to fix this:

1. Buy a new solenoid and replace it in the valve body. This Is the easiest way I think. Get the solenoid from Volvo to replace.
2.Replace the valve body with a used one from the junkyard.
3. Replace the whole transmission with a working used transmission again from the junkyard.

My preference is for number one. It just seems the easiest.
My mechanic says number two.The replacement valve body will already have solenoids and they will be working.

Number three is not even a consideration since I have a good transmission and it served me well for hundreds of thousands of miles. Why replace it
when any of the first two selections will do.

How hard is to replace just a failed solenoid, it would not need to be calibrated because if I I buy it from Volvo it would already be calibrated. I just would need to replace it in the valve body.
My Mechanic says to do number 2,since that is the most reliable. I do not know how hard it is to replace the valve body on a 2002 Volvo s40.

So what should I do?

Any help appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Respectfully,

Newport_j

 

An 18 year old FWD Volvo with transmission problems.

KBB.com suggests a 2002 s40 with 200,000 miles in good condition (with a working transmission!) might could be sold for $1100.

Having replaced many a FWD Volvo transmission in that year range - I would recommend spending as little as possible, or not fixing it at all - and using your repair money to purchase a different car. Budget transmission repairs on cars with 200k miles usually do not end well -

 

#1, without a doubt. Your transmission might be a little different, but here's a video I did showing how easy it is to replace all the solenoids on my 2005 V50 (same as the S40)...

The solenoids weren't all that expensive, and it was a pretty easy fix. I would recommend using a VIDA-equipped laptop to reset the transmission adaptations after changing the solenoids, but the tranny will eventually "figure it out" if you don't.

 

before you go digging into the tranny, I'd suggest you clean the wire harness connector contacts at the TCU and if you can, at the transmission. You may find that fixes the signal issue.