I have a 2001 volvo s40 1.9t and am experiencing a weird hesitation when the car shifts from 2nd to 3rd. I recently had the problem of sputtering during acceleration, but fixed that with new volvo plugs and ignition coils. My car is automatic and if I start off with the gear selector on 3 when the car shifts from 2nd to 3rd, there is a bit of hesitation. I believe you can see the tachometer drop some rpms. Let me remind you that this only happens when I accelerate harder than normal. Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks

 

Fluid level good?
Fluid color good?

 

Yea the levels are fine and the color is similar to when I bought the fluid. I had my tranny fluid replaced not that long ago with volvo fluid.

 

You local volvo dealer will have a TCM (transmission control module) upgrade available, which I have seen fix many driveability issues related to the transmission. The upgrade shouldn't be horribly expensive, but as tech said you need to check the fluid level before doing anything.

 

I have a feeling that might be it. The level is fine and the fluid is new. Some other things that my car does that might help diagnose the problem is that it shifts hard. Not all the time just occasionally. Also it just seems that my car is lacking power and shifts too early.

 

I called my volvo dealer and told them my shifting problem. They said to check my fluid level. But that is ok. Then they said that a TCM would not cause this problem on an s40 only on other models. ??? They said that the problem might be the tranny. I hope not. Could it be that maybe its time for a fluid change??

 

I doubt it have them check and see if it needs the software update.

Maybe it is the transmission.

 

Well I got a hold of some new tranny fluid and my old stuff looks pretty burnt. So monday I am having the tranny flushed at the dealer. After that we shall see how she runs then if there is no improvement then im doin the software upgrade. Here in California at the dealer I got the flush quoted for $210 and the upgrade for $180.

 

What causes the 2001 Volvo S40 hesitation after stopping at light?

 

Could be anything really. My experience has been the car is in need of a tuneup. And premium fuel helps alot especially on a very hot day. How long has it been since you changed the ignition coils, wires, and plugs? Air filter?

 

Do the RPM's dip and it shake a bit?

 

The spark plugs were changed 2 months ago. I was told that the boots may be cracked but they didn't look damaged at all.

I did, however, go to a bad gas station when all of this started.

 

And no, it doesn't shake it just sits there stubbornly, like, "I'm not going no where".